Let's start with the basics. I have been to 117 countries and always travel by public transportation and love to walk everywhere. I am not a tourist I am a traveler and I love to do off the beaten path things and find things that locals do.
I have been to some sketchy places but I have never felt so unsafe as I had on my recent trip to SCL. Because of that I am posing this question.

In SCL everybody from the hotel, which handed out warning sheets, to my uber drivers, to my tour guides made me feel I was about to be robbed, knocked down, purse stolen and ripped off. I did get ripped of by a taxi, but none of the other things happened. As a result, was constantly looking over my shoulder, and this is from someone who is always aware of her surroundings. I wasn't a pleasant time.

From what I have read/heard BsAs is worse the SCL. Now I am reading on here that the hotel I was looking at, The Park Tower is in a bad area. I have read about the squeezing paint or mustard and these stories pop up on other message boards and it seems like it's happening all of the time.

I have been to BsAs in 1998 with my DH and DS and enjoyed it and didn't have any problems. Do these scams target certain profiles. Would a 60 plus solo woman be a typical target. I know to take off all my jewelry, not carry anything valuable burn seems like if I take out my iPhone to look at it I am making myself a target.

I am ending a cruise in BsAs and due to air need to stay for two days. I can also do 4 days. I I love doing walking tours and walking everywhere and it seems there is so much to do. I just can decide if it's worth it if I am feeling than am under siege.

I am now going to look at another hotel. Would Recoleta be the safest place?
Again, sorry about sounding dramatic but I have received more warnings and heard more bad things about BsAs then I did when I went to CPT and other places in South Africa.

Are all these stories exaggerated?

Gracias