Always grab the cab number.
I took a cab from el Museo Nacional de Antropología to la Condesa. The fare was 271 pesos. I handed the driver a 500 peso bill after he said he had change. I grabbed my bag and awaited my change so I could leave.
“I can’t accept this. It’s torn,” he said in Spanish.
It had a small tear which I hadn’t noticed. I handed him 300 pesos instead and he gave me the 500 peso bill back. I awaited my change.
“This one is also torn.” He handed them back to me.
“I don’t have anymore pesos. Do you accept dollars?”
“Sí, twenty dollars.”
“The exchange rate is $15” I said. Luckily I had a $5 and some ones. I handed them to him ready to go and ready for the thank you signifying the bill is satisfied.
“There’s only $11 here.” And he handed it back to me. I checked my wallet. Nope, not a five there. The guy is a huckster.
I simply said I didn’t have any more and he let me out.
I entered a nearby cafe to make sure I hadn’t accidentally shorted the guy. I looked at all my cash, a 500 and 200 peso bill were fake.
I filed a police report. Without a cab or plate number, there was nothing the police could do.
If you see a 5’6” 50ish year old taxi driver near a tourist site, and he says your bills are torn, make sure to grab the cab number.