Ask Slashdot: Why Do So Many of You Think Carrying Cash Is 'Dangerous'?

An anonymous reader writes: Recently, I asked Slashdot what you thought about paying for things online using plastic, and the security of using plastic in general; thank you all for your many and varied responses, they're all much appreciated and gave me things to consider.

However, I got quite a few responses that puzzled me: People claiming that paying for things with cash, and carrying any amount of cash around at all, was somehow dangerous, that I'd be "robbed," and that I shouldn't carry cash at all, only plastic. I'm Gen-Y; I've walked around my entire life, in all sorts of places, and have never been approached or robbed by anyone, so I'm more than a little puzzled by that.

So now I ask you, Slashdotters: Why do you think carrying cash is so dangerous? Where do you live/spend your time that you worry so much about being robbed? Have you been robbed before, and that's why you feel this way? I'm not going to stop carrying cash in my wallet but I'd like to understand why it is so many of you feel this way -- so please be thorough in your explanations.

Comments

Cash never fails.

[Anonymous Coward]

To the people who think carrying cash is dangerous: cash never fails to complete a transaction.

https://arstechnica.com/business/2014/10/slow-credit-card-verification-lands-florida-man-in-jail/

When your card gets declined, in some circumstances, you may get arrested. So there's another form of "dangerous" when relying solely on plastic as a form of payment.

Re:Cash never fails.

[Anonymous Coward]

I was at a grocery store a few weeks ago, the power was out. Much to my surprise, they stayed open and I purchased my groceries - those with no cash couldn't buy anything as the old slide card machines no longer exist I guess.

Re:Cash never fails.

[spoot]

Here in Austin, there are a few establishments that don't accept cash, only plastic. Chi'Lantro comes to mind. And although they are right up the street, I don't go anymore. You won't accept my greenbacks, I'll take my biz elsewhere. (going back to yelling at the clouds now)

I don't

[Misagon]

Maybe I would be concerned if I was carrying around a larger amount of cash, but I almost never do.

I am more worried about losing my only card, which is both my debit card and my ATM card, as my bank is making it difficult for me to have multiple cards tied to the same account at the same time.
If I get robbed of a little cash but have my card, I could still withdraw some more.

I don't keep cash and cards together. The common recommendation of what to do if you get robbed is to throw the money on the ground and run. Then the robbers will go for the cash and not you.
If all you have is a card, then the robbers will stomp on you until you give them your PIN number, and they will hold you down while another robber withdraws as much as he can from your account.

I've heard from both sides

[Pollux]

I know someone who was the victim of a purse snatch. Purse found in a back alley just a few blocks away, and all the perp took was cash. I also know a family member who had his debit card stolen and about $1,200 of purchases racked up on it in 24 hours. (Yes, he only had $50 in liability, but he said the time spent on jumping through every phone call and piece of paperwork was a pain.) Your money is just as much at risk in either scenario.

As for me, I hardly ever carry cash. Not because I'm afraid to, but because it's a lifestyle choice. If I have cash in my pocket, I'm far more likely to spend it, as well as spend it on unnecessary things, and not keep track of how much I have left. Though, I know many who say the same about debit cards.

So, I guess, to each their own.

Re:I carry cash.

[skids]

Scenario A

1) Crack head needs $20 for a hit, ASAP
2) Crack head holds you up for $50
3) Crack head leaves to go buy crack

Scenario B

1) Crack head needs $20 for a hit, ASAP
2) Crack head holds you up for $4.35
3) Crack head takes you at gunpoint to an ATM
4) Crack head robs you for $350
5) Crack head laves to go buy crack

Paris

[Tailhook]

Robbed on the Metro. They can spot foreigners and know that foreigners carry cash because only idiots travel without cash. Got hit in the ribs and lost $900. Got beat for a bike once. I don't mention the nice things I own to people; one of their menace kids gets wind of it and they'll dwell on it for years, watching for an opening. Saw this happen twice to my father, once to an uncle and also a former employer.

If you're a healthy young male living the dream on the posh side of town during daylight hours no one will mess with you. The minute you venture outside your little safespace or appear vulnerable at the wrong time they'll jump your ass. Flash some cash in a liquor store some time. You'll find out. You claim experience in "all sorts of places" but I'll bet that anyone goofy enough to pose this question on Slashdot hasn't got clue number one.

Cash is dangerous

[lazlo]

Cash can be slightly dangerous. It's a much better vector for the spread of diseases than plastic, or NFC. Getting mugged is very bad, but very rare. Getting the flu is probably less bad, but much more common.

Cash used to be dangerous

[gurps_npc]

100 years ago, there was no such thing as plastic and checks were untrustworthy. To buy most things, you had to carry cash. Worse, banks were not open 24/7, and was inconvenient. Say you go on vacation. A good vacation now a day can easily cost you $1000 a week, plus transportation. Say $2,500 for a two week vacation. Family of four, double that to $5,000.

Would you walk around with $5,000 in your pocket today? If everyone around you KNEW that you are holding that kind of cash? In a warm, tropical country where people could live for a year on that kind of cash?

Before the modern financial methods - credit and checks, walking around with cash WAS dangerous. Very dangerous. That was why travelers checks became popular. Eventually other methods caught up and became just as trusted and accepted. So you don't have to carry a lot of it.

But 100 years ago, walking around with cash was freakin' dangerous. Now, it is pretty darn safe because we carry much less cash, and the potential muggers know it.

Re:Just last week, downtown Philly...

[guruevi]

Your $500 Android is more valuable to them than a couple of tens or twenties. Give them a wallet, some fake cash perhaps, they won't sit there and check, most will run as soon as they get what they want; if you have "too much" money or you look like you've got lots of money they may also accompany you to the nearest ATM and make you withdraw a couple of hundreds.

Either way, the point is moot for most, even if you carry cash the chance that you get robbed is relatively low. It's crazy to carry lots of cash in your wallet, besides simply losing it or giving the wrong or too many bills to an unwitting cashier, the government may also seize the cash you carry if it feels you may do something illegal with it (civil asset forfeiture).

manufactured danger

[cas2000]

cash is dangerous because visa and mastercard don't get their cut of small transactions like buying a coffee, nor can they track your location and spending habits to enhance the value of the data about you that they sell.

so they force paypass/paywave on everyone by making it impossible to get even a debit card without them, and then spend a lot on advertising to let everyone know how dangerous and scary and inconvenient cash is.

Re:Dangerous? No. Risky? Yes.

[Anonymous Coward]

This is the same logic I use to justify why I don't put all my cash in a bank.

Re:Short answer...law enforcement officers.

[AK Marc]

I carried $50k around for a week, and I kept proof of funds with me, in case I was stopped. As you say, I was more worried about the cops than the robbers.

A credit card isn't your money.

[jellomizer]

While budgeting and purchasing it makes sense to treat it like your money. But when you buy with a credit card, the bank buys the product, and you owe the bank.
So if your card is stolen and charges were put on it. You are not responsible but the bank needs to deal with the theft of their money. (Normally they have insurance)
Now having to prove off those charges is annoying but it is possible. Vs having your cash lost where your money is gone for good.

Now a lot of time you may lose your cash without the typical robbery.
Someone at the store could see you are distracted and skim off some change.
You can lose your wallet/purse by many means. And someone can just take the cash out of it.
Or you can just have cash fall out. Haven't you found a fiver on the ground before?
Then those pennies that you put in the give a penny.

Cash is just not safe, other payment options at least have some safety features in them.