Definitely stepped up my game. I’ve always been cautious while traveling, but looking back, the short stays within a four-week period, paired with a sporty outfit and a name-brand leather laptop bag, probably triggered the checks. It resulted in a fine for allegedly bringing in an undeclared item.
I’m assuming their system flags inbound passengers they've previously "milked," marking them as repeat targets for future cash grabs. Paraphrasing, but that's what it essentially is.
And while we talk about their databases, they don’t even bother registering whether you’ve already paid undue taxes or fines at the border. Instead, you get a flimsy paper receipt, and that’s your only proof per item. No central system where they can look it up. If they decide to hit you with the same fine again, the burden is on you to dig up those receipts and prove you already paid.
Now, I play it differently. I stick to smart casual, ditch any flashy or branded items, and slap barcodes on all my electronics to avoid any nonsense about their origin.