in form of no legal/police recourse against the rip-off perps
(and you're not even 'rebuilding-while-brown/black'!)

I've not talked to enough folk burned-out in these parts to compare the sorry state of local dis-civility in our section of the dis-US, though it's not likely
yours is an exceptional hotbed of crooks ... some just taking a few tips from grifters-in-the News? (now Daily.)

Will be joining you in being a stingy bastard for some time; it's hard to gauge what ex-Pats' overall costs are ... until you're There. Y'know?
(But if I'm to be ripped-off--at least occasionally--I'd much rather I were amidst a saner, less-vicious tribe.)
Luck..