Never let anyone trick you into looking inside your wallet.
 

Hey guys, usually I am pretty smart in making people think that I am poor down here but the other day I slipped up.

To make a long story short, a police officer tricked me by asking if he could borrow my phone card. I agreed and opened my money belt to get the phone card and as soon as he saw that I had some bills it turned into having to pay a bribe.

I negotiated the bribe down but the moral of the story is never let anyone see into your wallet or money belt. If someone asks you a question which would lead to them seeing what is inside your money belt/wallet make an excuse so that you can do it in private.

great tip, I am going for the fake wallet trick on my next sojourn. Old credit cards and the like will hopefully fool any theif.

lol put in lots of $1 bills too

Yep, you live and learn!

Just carry a wallet with only the day's cash, the rest of your cash plus spare cards should ideally be hidden away someplace on the bike or locked in the panniers. As I had a Nationwide ATM card that doesn't charge to take out money, I could get away with taking out smaller amounts from ATMs and so never actually had that much cash on me.

Looks like you're having a right old adventure over there- wish I was back there now doing it all again!