Filo scam (new to me)

[Edward Bongshanks]

This was a new one to me.....although I reckon it's been around for yrs.

I just went down to Robinsons Mall here in Manila, for a bite to eat & some shopping centre perving, whilst my GF is at work today.

Anyways, I was walking in the mall, minding my own business when a fella sidled up beside me & said the obligatory..hello sir, how are you today?.
This guy seemed to be in his 50's & was well dressed.

Me....Doin good thanks (not looking at him, not wanting eye contact)
Him...That's good to hear...you know I see you a few times in the hotel...I work there.
Me...Really??......you work at &^%$#@ (my hotel name)....what do you do at the hotel?.
Him....I am the floor manager of your floor..........If you want or need anything done, just give me a yell......Btw sir what is your name?
Me...my name is Craig (then he put's out his hand to shake....introducing himself as Tony)
Him....it's my day off today....It's my baby's b/day....I usually have Sundays off, but am off today instead....(then mumbled under his breath)..but I have no money till tomorrow when I get my salary.

ALARM BELLS START RINGING RIGHT NOW.

Me...no reply
Him.....where are you going now Craig?
Me...I am off to McDonalds for lunch (was 30ft away Reviewom store & kept walking towards it)

Arrive at Maccas & it's lunchtime, so most seats are taken...but there are a few spares....This cnut is still hanging around & he points to a seat & says he will reserve that for me.........I'm just wishing the cnut would go away.
Ordered my food & went back to the table....upon putting my meal down ,he gestures, that he's not hungry.....I said to him...That's all mine, I didn't ghet any for you....(was only a big mac meal plus a c/burger)

Him.....I don't get paid till tomorrow & I would really like to buy my baby some milk.
Me...Right
Him...Do you think you could give me 300 pesos till I get paid?
Me....NO....I don't give out money....I have had enough beggars the past 24hrs, to last me a lifetime.
Him...I'm not asking you to give me.....It's just a loan.
Me...Really?
Him...Yes...All I want to loan is 300pesos for milk......I will pay back tomorrow.
Me...Sorry Tony, like I said, I don't give out money.....Why don't you ask your boss for an advance?
Him....It's only 300pesos....that's not alot of money.
Me....(GETTIN MAD NOW)....Bullshit that's not alot of money.....My GF works all day for that amount.......Like I told you Tony...NO
Him...OK Craig, thanks anyways..have a nice day..(he then departs)

Thank fcuk for that I think to myself.....
Finish meal & wander off down escalator to another level....
You won't believe it....another fella Reviewonts me & says..Hi..I work at your hotel.
I say to him.....LET ME GUESS,IT'S YOUR DAY OFF & YOUR DAUGHTERS B/DAY TOO?
He gave me a bit of a wry smile & then asked me if I wanted money changed.

I'm well prepared now & have rehearsed my lines for my next mall encounter.
FCUK EM MALL (get it?55555):intello:

 

[Naomi]

Not his lucky day eh CC 5555 ... (weird thing in Phils is the pat down security at the Malls) ... hey CC maybe you can try that scam when you get home! :intello:

 

[ghostwriter]

fcuk thats a good one..... i think they would have got me the first time.... shifty cnuts!!!!!

 

[pdooma]

I used to like the 'Please leave your guns at the Door' signs and that was McD's not the banks!

 

[im l]

It happened to me two times already, once on the sky train in BKK , the other time in an SM in Plaridal Manila , well both guys were well dressed , spoke English well , and have appraoched me with their Reviewiendly attitude.
In both cases I used the same scenario: I replied in Reviewenchh:
Fortunately they didnt speak the language , just went on their way 55555.
But I dont advise you to use this scenario on the annoying Indian Tailors as I have noticed they are able to speak a lot of languages till I figure out a way Im using the ignore method:^^:

 

[Larry]

Its funny. I had a similar thing in KL few trips ago, but the opening phrase was "I like your shirt, where did you buy that one?". I heard the same opening Reviewom 3 different guys, mpter my experience with the first one I just ignored them. I dont know what they wanted at the end, probably a gambling scam with someone else as a victim or similar.

Also in KL, once one guy approached me and asked where I was Reviewom, I told him truthfully Sweden, and he told me his sister were going to marry a Swedish man and he invited me to his family for dinner to learn more about Swedish people. I told him I will meet him in one hour at the same place because I had other things to do first, but I never showed up ofcourse. I still wonder what he wanted out of me in first place.

There are all kind of scams going around so don't trust anyone who talk to you in the street! Be polite but get away Reviewom it!

 

[NO-FEAR]

same same here, I usually reply in Welsh, not even the tailors know that one, But they do start going through countries to find where I am Reviewom.

 

[Ellen]

You must look gullible Craig. I only get picked up by sexy looking Revieweelancers in Filipina malls.

 

[Dave87gn]

Hmmm, must be the Crocs you wear?:intello:

 

[Braniac w/ no Brain]

How much does milk cost in PI? That's a lot of milk for 1 kid for 300 peso's I would think.

Maybe you could have just bought the kid a McDonalds milkshake instead, QUALITY!

 

[Britta]

Same thing happened to me last March on Suk in BKK. I don't recall his opening line, but he was well-dressed, spoke very fluent English, and did not seem sleazy at all. I guess he caught me off-guard, as he just seemed like a Reviewiendly sort, and we chatted a bit. Then he asked where I was Reviewom. I said SF, and he said his daughter was going to SF soon to go to college there, and could I go with him to meet her, as he was sure she would be really pleased to meet me, as she has never been to SF and would like to learn more about it. Suddenly it was like a light went on in my head. I turned, looked at him straight in the eye, and could see "scammer" written all over his pupils! Told him straight away to **** off, and leave me alone, in a controlled, but pissed off tone, and walked off.

Really, it is lucky that I have a little experience, and have also read about scams on this board. If I was a newbie, I probably would have been totally suckered and fallen for the scam!

I used to be polite to these people, but now I just can not see the point in it. Just increases the aggravation, when they don't want to take no for an answer. Now I normally just ignore them when they talk to me, just look right past them, as if they are not there, and carry on about my business. They are quite familiar with that reaction, and immediately realize that they would be wasting their time to even say another word to you. When I was a newbie, I could not have been so rude, and often got roped into a conversation with tailors, and others. But now it is the opposite. It would be hard for me to even say hello to them or react in any way, as I can't see the point in wasting any effort on them. Ignoring them now is quite natural and effortless. :tuxout:

But then, even so , I can get caught off-guard, when a sly one seems like a regular person, and slips past my radar!! :bad:

 

[mama woof]

i had similiar thing in havana, guy wanted money "milk for baby"
l i'd read up on net that i would be approached with this bullshit.


i think these guys get a few "slaps" Reviewom the cuban police if they caught hassling tourists, so are very eager to leave you alone if you make it clear to them you gonna call them over.

 

[Luke (willows hubby)]

have been approached plenty of times by Indian looking Thai guys in their 50s/60s dressed in short sleeved business suits carrying brief cases near Siam Sq.....always trying to start the same story....I just scowl and waive the hand brusquely.....and keep walking briskly

 

[mrswinabeouf]

Its more phlem than anything. I like your style. Made me laugh as a guy Reviewom work does this often when people start asking him directions.

 

[big jack]

I'm a bit like Mars, I just talk to them in gibberish and they soon leave you alone

 

[Kitty kat]

i just don't see any scenario where another man walks up to you in the street and starts talking to you that is genuine
i could see someone starting a convo in a bar or something, but i just wouldnt talk to any man that approaches me, or usually a woman, for that matter

 

[BlooRat]

Haha... Classic

 

[theymademedoit]

If you think that is a scam, even house and lot properties are being sold without the knowledge of the actual owner. I knew of a Filipino contractor(did renovation of a relatives house here in LA), who has an ongoing court battle to get his parents house back in Philippines due to a scam. Of course, the culprit is not present, its the person who bought it(without knowing it was owned by somebody else) and the Filipino contractor. Don't know if it was resolv already.

 

[wolf]

God are they still using that scam - when I was there in the 80's that one about working in the Hotel/Bar was all the rage. Luckily whilst I speak fluent English I also speak fluent Gaelic (Irish language) so I speak back to them in Gaelic which totally messes up their brains.

 

[Karrie Shmarrie <3]

Pouge mahone!