# Exploding Fake Wallet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573 "2013-03-10T21:39:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/1 "2013-03-10T21:39:53Z")
Are there fake wallets that explode? I’m thinking that this could be very useful if you were confronted. You could take the wallet out, press some button, and hand it over, and three seconds later, the guy’s missing his hand. Do such products exist? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/2 "2013-03-10T22:01:52Z")
I can’t imagine anyone selling such a thing. Illegal as all hell. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/3 "2013-03-10T22:02:27Z")
I’d think not. Just too much liability. What if, for instance, you were in an accident. A cop takes the wallet to get ID and it goes off on him. What if you drop it and a well meaning passer-by picks it up to return it. For that matter what if it goes off every time you sit down hard? Looks like a lot of potential problems. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/4 "2013-03-10T22:07:26Z")
I serious doubt it as commercial product. There are some obvious manufacturing liability issues of such a thing plus it would probably run afoul of many laws even if you didn’t ever use it. If you did use it, you could find yourself in serious legal trouble because booby-trapping is generally illegal even when a felony has been committed. You would probably be better off just legally carrying a concealed firearm and even that is extremely shaky legally in this scenario because simple personal robbery (mugging) doesn’t usually meet the legal standard to justify potentially lethal force or maiming. The most likely scenario for such a product is that people world either blow themselves up inadvertently or they would use it for cruel revenge by baiting someone else. I don’t think there is much of a business case to make them. You might try the CIA however. They produced exploding cigars at one time. Those didn’t work but maybe the would be interested in your idea. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/5 "2013-03-10T22:09:18Z")
I don’t carry a wallet but I might start carrying a fake one in bad areas for people to steal, run away with and find monopoly money. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/6 "2013-03-10T22:16:15Z")
[Exploding wallet practical joke.](http://www.theprankstore.com/shop/catalog/Exploding-wallet-p-16220.html) These have been around as long as I can remember. I’d suggest using it. The mugger will be very entertained and likely won’t hit you quite as hard as you’d think. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/7 "2013-03-10T22:26:14Z")
> [@desertmonk](#): > > I don’t carry a wallet but I might start carrying a fake one in bad areas for people to steal, run away with and find monopoly money. This is called a “throw down wallet”. Popular in the big cities. You put a bunch of singles, grocery store cards, etc. in it. Keep your real money somewhere else. If you get mugged, throwdown or give him the fake, and hope he doesn’t kill you. To me, it would be easier to just shoot the mugger, but hey, whatever works, and city people are weird. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/8 "2013-03-10T22:31:00Z")
Also, generally speaking, you are only allowed to use deadly force if in imminent fear for your life, or of serious bodily injury. If the mugger takes the exploding wallet home, and you are safe, you are no longer in imminent fear. If he blows his hand off later, you’ve become the criminal. (Plus, what if he takes the wallet home and his kind blows his hand off? Bad idea all around.) ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/9 "2013-03-10T22:34:37Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > You would probably be better off just legally carrying a concealed firearm and even that is extremely shaky legally in this scenario because simple personal robbery (mugging) doesn’t usually meet the legal standard to justify potentially lethal force or maiming. What? Sure it does, unless I get mugged by an unarmed midget or little old lady. The whole idea of mugging is that the mugger will use force if you don’t comply with his demands. You’re under the threat of force. Otherwise, it’s a begging and not a mugging. It’s “your money or your life” not “your money, please, and if you refuse, I’ll politely be on my way.” ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/10 "2013-03-10T22:38:19Z")
> [@ChickenLegs](#): > > Also, generally speaking, you are only allowed to use deadly force if in imminent fear for your life, or of serious bodily injury. If the mugger takes the exploding wallet home, and you are safe, you are no longer in imminent fear. If he blows his hand off later, you’ve become the criminal. (Plus, what if he takes the wallet home and his kind blows his hand off? Bad idea all around.) So the mugger then goes to the cops and tells they that they _stole_ the wallet? Surely they’d still be in trouble for that. Maybe a better idea is that it sprays them with some dye that can’t be easily removed from skin and is highly visible, and would be recognized by the police. ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/11 "2013-03-10T22:42:30Z")
> [@Michael63129](#): > > So the mugger then goes to the cops and tells they that they _stole_ the wallet? Surely they’d still be in trouble for that. > > Maybe a better idea is that it sprays them with some dye that can’t be easily removed from skin and is highly visible, and would be recognized by the police. Dude, look. It doesn’t matter what he tells the cops. You still did a crime, a serious one, even if he did too. Sure, he’ll probably keep his mouth shut, but if under the stress of having a blown up hand, he blabs, you’re going to jail. Maybe it ain’t right, but it still is. (I don’t make the laws, bleeding hearts do.) Plus, what if he makes up some story about you leaving the wallet on a park bench? Who’s the jury gonna believe, hard-working, well-off you, or some poor sap missing a hand? If if you slide in criminal court, he’ll still sue you for all you’ve got. And likley win. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/12 "2013-03-11T00:46:10Z")
> [@desertmonk](#): > > I don’t carry a wallet but I might start carrying a fake one in bad areas for people to steal, run away with and find monopoly money. Hanoi is on the top-10 list of pickpocket cities, so when we were there, I kept an old wallet in the pocket I usually carry my wallet in. It was empty except for a note that said “FUCK YOU!” I tried to get pickpocketed just so someone would get that, but it never happened. (I guess a lot of shady-looking people were wondering whay I was poking my ass in their direction.) The wife was horrified, because she was afraid the pickpocket would come back to wreak vengeance. ---
**Author:** ![JerseySwamps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9a140/32.png) [@JerseySwamps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseySwamps)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/13 "2013-03-11T02:22:10Z")
> [@ChickenLegs](#): > > This is called a “throw down wallet”. Popular in the big cities. You put a bunch of singles, grocery store cards, etc. in it. Keep your real money somewhere else. If you get mugged, throwdown or give him the fake, and hope he doesn’t kill you. > > To me, it would be easier to just shoot the mugger, but hey, whatever works, and city people are weird. Most city people aren’t gun nuts. A fake wallet is much safer and much less expensive than a gun or an exploding wallet. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/14 "2013-03-11T03:42:01Z")
Would you settle for a [flaming wallet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X5wVFF3aqc&feature=youtube_gdata_player)? ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/15 "2013-03-11T05:37:05Z")
Actually, I’ve always wondered why people don’t booby trap handbags or phones to get back at thieves in regions with lax law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/16 "2013-03-11T05:49:54Z")
I don’t know about those items, but people in South Africa have been known to booby-trap their cars. > **[Mechanic injured by anti-hijack booby trap](https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/mechanic-injured-by-anti-hijack-booby-trap-407148)** > > Grant Kloppers has been hospitalised after falling victim to a custom-made "protection" device. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/17 "2013-03-11T06:09:22Z")
There are a whole set of problems with the OP’s device. The law generally takes a dim view of private individuals taking the law into their own hands. The exploding wallet is clearly not a device to provide protection, or to stop a crime - the mugger already has the wallet - in principle the crime is actually over. When he walks away the wallet explodes, maiming him. This is punnishment or revenge, not protection. It is no different to shooting a mugger in the back as he runs away with you wallet. Even if the mugger was armed, once the crime is over it is an issue for the law, not you, to pursue punishment. You don’t get to decide upon the punishment, and certainly you do not get to inflict a punishment that most of the western world would consider barbaric. If the laws of the land don’t provide for loss of a hand for stealing, why do you think that you have the right to decide that this is the appropriate punishment? As pointed out above, just because someone else commits a crime, it does not provide the right for you to commit a crime as well. Indeed this is a core principle of how we live our lives in the law. The law takes a very deep dislike of vigilante groups. Due process of law is what protects you from arbitrary punishment from anyone that takes a dislike to you. This is one of the most critical protections provided in most constitutions. Rule of law even provides protection to the citizens from arbitrary punishment by the government. For a lot of the planet this is a core aspect of why we have the quality of lives we have. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/18 "2013-03-11T17:01:59Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > I don’t know about those items, but people in South Africa have been known to booby-trap their cars. Oh, they do better than that! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fDrzMGdYWZc/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHuAYACtAGKAgwIABABGHIgZigwMA8=&rs=AOn4CLApMdUPh_hegx6g1e2K6J4D6kt_mQ "South African Car Flamethrower") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDrzMGdYWZc) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/19 "2013-03-11T17:44:43Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Hanoi is on the top-10 list of pickpocket cities, so when we were there, I kept an old wallet in the pocket I usually carry my wallet in. It was empty except for a note that said “FUCK YOU!” I tried to get pickpocketed just so someone would get that, but it never happened. (I guess a lot of shady-looking people were wondering whay I was poking my ass in their direction.) The wife was horrified, because she was afraid the pickpocket would come back to wreak vengeance. Yeah, or if you were held at gunpoint by a mugger who asked you to wait a sec while he checked the wallet’s contents. “Oh, that? That’s not to _you_. That was to… myself! Fuck _me_, see, for forgetting to put money in my… you’re not buying this, are you?” ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573/20 "2013-03-11T18:04:42Z")
My .380 in its holster looks like a wallet. That’s kind of an exploding wallet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-fake-wallet/652573.md?page=2)