Cell Phone Discretion

Hey mongers,

I’m coming to you for some wisdom based on your many years experience. For background, I’ve been going to TJ for about two years now, and have a significant other here in the states. I live in Cali, so I typically go every couple of months and say I am on a work trip.

I’ve run into some tight spots when it comes to calling home or receiving calls while in Tijuana that have made me rethink my current strategy. About a year ago, I received a call from my SO while in HK. I went back to my room, and called her back. She told me it said a number from Mexico was calling her that she did not recognize when I called her back. She also mentioned the ring tone was different (a beeping noise) when she had called me originally.I played it off, saying something must be wrong with my cell phone. She bought it, but I was so spooked I left TJ immediately and got a room in SD before heading home the next day.

Now when I go, I put my phone on DND. To call my SO, I’ll cross back over to San Ysidro and make my nightly call from my car. It’s an inconvenience, one I’m willing to accept, but I’m wondering if there is an easier way.

My questions are:

-When I make a call from my cell phone in Cascadas, what will my SO see on her phone?

-What will my SO see when she calls me when I’m in TJ? What will she see on her phone?

-Does any of this change if I am on wifi at Cascadas or Ticuan?

If it helps, I have Verizon and she never checks the statement. She doesn’t have access to it.

Thanks in advance!

20 comments

Latest

  • TFP
    2 years ago
    I could have written this exact same post. Down to the crossing back to the San Ysidro mall to make the daily call.

    Like you said, when you go international the phone won't ring the same way. It'll make the beeping noises instead of a regular ring. She'll know your in another country, especially if she already receives or makes calls to international countries.

    I also have Verizon and for me when I called it still showed my number on her phone but it made the beeping sound when her phone rang. It also makes the beeping sound for her instead of the normal ring when she calls.

    Not sure if that changes if you change calls to wifi but I doubt it.

    Waiting to see if anyone offers you any good advice.

  • Jascoi
    2 years ago
    I'm glad I'm divorced.
  • Hank Moody
    2 years ago
    Not sure if it will work, but when we traveled internationally we put our phones into airplane mode and enabled WiFi calling. We weren’t in Mexico and did it to keep international cell phone costs down. I don’t recall anyone saying anything about the rings or called ID being different. Try it out by calling a trusted friend or board member.
  • Warrior15
    2 years ago
    ^ Wifi is terrible in Cascadas. Maybe it's better in Ticuan. I may try staying there next trip to sleep.

    I've only been once in the past two years. My SO didn't say anything, but I will often send her a text when I'm there saying I"m in meetings and will just call her the next day. I'm not really lying, am I ?
  • Cashman1234
    2 years ago
    If the OP is concerned about being found out by his SO, it might be a good idea to turn location services off on his cellphone.

    It’s possible to explain away an odd ring or other reception issues - but being in TJ and at a brothel - will be a tough one to talk out of.
  • goldmongerATL
    2 years ago
    Where does your S.O. think you are? Are you supposed to be in San Diego?
  • mickey48066
    2 years ago
    Just leave your cell phone in your car while you're over there. She can leave a message. If there's an emergency, tell her to call 911. Nothing you can do to help. Solved your problems just like that. You're welcome.
  • TJ Walker
    2 years ago
    The cell network can be very random. Eventually you'll be caught.
  • Redbaron12
    2 years ago
    I had Verizon a couple of years ago and mine did the same thing. I now use Tmobile and it gets far better reception than I got with Verizon. It's also free in Mexico, and there is no weird ring tone. It works exactly the same as in the states. My buddy uses Verizon and when we're both in Mexico and I call him, sometimes it rings forever before his VM comes on. Sometimes his phone doesn't ring when I call him. Sometimes he receives my texts an hour after I send them. I think every carrier is different but Tmobile it works exactly the same.
  • Papi_Chulo
    2 years ago
    I don't have a solution - IDK if this would work but ... if u rent a car that u leave parked at the border, then leave ur cell phone in the car on the US side, then have ur calls forwarded to a burn phone that u have with u in TJ?
  • Conundrum
    2 years ago
    How about an answering service that can forward calls?
  • CJKent_band
    2 years ago
    @Razarus09

    I will play along and comment on your discussion.

    If you have a SO, I would recommend you to work on having her cover your needs, so you don’t have to go outside your relationship, or have an open relationship so you don’t have to worry about sneaking around.

    In my limited experience and humble opinion, I just would recommend to use a Burner Phone and a Burner Identity when participating in Adult Industry activities/the-hobby.

    Most people – fictional or otherwise – use burner phones because they’re private, they cannot be tracked, and you have a level of anonymity that you simply do not get with a traditional smartphone.

    As far as I know Verizon like many other carriers uses other networks when being outside the country, (roaming) and some plans charge extra for it, or it might be included in their plan.

    Remember all mobile phones can be traced when they are being used with devices that triangulate the location using the cellular network.

    So you should leave your personal phone at your “car/office/work” and forward your calls to your Burner phone

    If you really need to be “private/anonymous” get a simple phone that can be bought for cash either in a 7/11 or a store like Best Buy, and can be activated by phone using a land line (pay phone, they are out there) so you can make up your secret Burner identity.

    Some “carriers” like US Mobile and Visible cost $10-$15 a month.

    Just be careful out there when visiting Tijuana; The Happiest Place on Earth, according to Krusty https://tuscl.net/photo.php?id=1401
  • Specialj
    2 years ago
    I was thinking a burner phone would be the cheapest and easiest solution.
  • funonthaside
    2 years ago
    I suppose it depends how "significant" she is. If she won't allow you to travel/do things on your own/with buddies, ditch her. She's apparently not all that important to you if you feel the need to get some side action in TJ (not judging, as I'm doing the same).
  • booji boy
    2 years ago
    When you go into TJ, your phone will connect to the nearest cell repeater by default. Usually, this means one of the Mexican repeaters, and what happens is that whichever MX cell company yours is partnered with (probably Telcel or AT&T Mexico) will register you locally as a roaming customer. There are ways to override this behavior, but it depends on your particular phone and your carrier so I'd check with them to see if it's even possible. If it is, you can force it to stay on your home network with the caveat that, in the ZN, the signal will likely be absolute crap because the US cell towers aren't that close. A signal booster might help, but it's not the sort of thing you'll want to carry around in the bars.

    You could in principle spoof being in the US via something like Google Voice, but that would mean giving her a completely different number to use and I'm not sure it'll work the way you want it to when you're out of the country.
  • Icee Loco (asshole)
    2 years ago
    This thread is weird. I just had a call from a friend who went to tj. The phone said California snd the ring was normal.
  • PutaTester
    2 years ago
    Years ago, calls had a European ring tone. Something that can best described as two quick low tone rings. People I called would ask about the funny ring pattern. I would quickly reply, must be a technology thing and change the subject.

    Recently, the ringtone has changed to a typical American, single bell ringtone. (I have Verizon.) Guessing that it depends on the carrier.
  • Icee Loco (asshole)
    2 years ago
    Tmobile seems to work normally. But the reception was pretty bad. Staticky
  • sushiman
    2 years ago
    I use WhatsApp with wifi while traveling internationally. My number does come up on the other end. WhatsApp is free to use and you shouldn't have any issues. Suggest you try it with a friend while down there, if possible. If it works with him, then have your SO or wife add it to their phone. I use it domestically as well..
  • bntj1
    2 years ago
    it’s a lot of overhead just for 2-3 weekends a year. I would rethink the whole plan. Besides, if SO corners you, she’s going to see the statements.

    The nightly call is tricky.

    Buying a personal hotspot allows for wifi calling on demand from anywhere. Might require a data sim that works in Mexico.

    I’ve used gvoice for years. People cannot tell the difference between a gvoice call and a carrier call. It works over wifi when you leave the country. Can also send/receive calls from a laptop or tablet. It’s one number for multiple devices. Android devices manage google voice really well.

    Maybe convert your SO to the gvoice number. Conversion is a long haul decision, don’t fuk up and use the carrier number. Gvoice can also relay carrier calls. It picks a number randomly for the relay. This could fuk you over if it relays against a Mexican phone number. Test well before committing.

    WhatsApp with SO only if you normalize usage in advance, otherwise red flag. With apps theres a tendency to crave video chats and overshare availability, last login, locations; stuff you are trying to avoid.
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