Marybeth Ramos Nave posted on her Facebook page for her friends and family to be aware of this caucasian male that they have encountered near Manila Bay. They confirmed that this was a professional scammer when they found the photo and the same story here on When In Manila (.com) back in July! You may read the post here.
Marybeth narrates her story of encountering a male caucasian in Harbour Square near CCP complex in Manila. He seemed flustered and lost. He says that he has been scammed by a taxi driver who took his money and he needs directions going to C5. The group of individuals called a GrabCar for him and gathered money to pay for it themselves, wanting to help out a foreigner in need.
Sudden red flags hoisted: He kept saying to not tell the cab driver what happened to him and got the money instead of giving to the driver instead.
After the GrabCar left they immediately phoned the driver saying that they do not know this man and to be careful as they noticed red flags from his story. The driver then confirmed that he was a scammer and he dropped him off nearby and refused to pay him. Fortunately the driver was not harmed.
Direct Quote:
BE-aWARE: Male Caucasian Professional Scam Artist by Manila Bay
This incident just happened this morning, January 2, 2016, at around 5am.
Upon arriving at the parking lot near Harbour Square & CCP for the regular Dragonboat training, I noticed a foreigner (not a teammate) wearing the same blue colored shirt as our team and talking to one of our fellow paddlers from across the gate. I thought he could be a newly invited person and I went about my business of putting my things in one corner, until that teammate approached me and said “Kausapin mo nga, mukhang nawawala eh”. So I turned to the guy and asked “What’s the problem?”
He narrated a series of unfortunate events (which for me didn’t add up and raised red flags). One story he shared, along with so many, was, “I was riding a cab and the driver took off with my bag which had 3,000 pesos, and I only have 3 pesos with me. Now I need to walk to C5”.
I replied with: “C5 is on the other side. Do you know how to get there?”
He said: “Can you draw how to get there”.
At this point I turned to my teammates and asked who can draw the directions. One teammate tore a page from her notebook and took out a pen so we could give him specific instructions. Another teammate said, “tumawag nalang tayo ng taxi bayaran nalang natin”.
I looked around and no cabs were passing by. One teammate suggested to book Grab Taxi while another said Grab Car would be better because of the fixed rate unlike a cab.
I booked Grab Car for this person. I asked him again for his exact destination. From C5 he changed it to Eastwood Residence Hotel.The amount that showed up for Grab Car was 392pesos. A bunch of us gathered that amount. While collecting, he said “Thank you very much, I appreciate this, please do not tell the driver what happened to me”-he kept repeating this for me not to tell the driver anything he said (another red flag).
When the car arrived, I opened the door and decided to give the money straight to the driver, but suddenly the guy sat infront and grabbed the money from me and said he will be the one to hand the cash. (Another red flag)
When they left, I called the Grab Car Driver and told him “Kuya hindi po namin kilala yung Tao na yan, tinulungan Lang po namin. Magingat po kayo, balitaan mo ako kung nadrop off na siya”
While waiting, my teammates and I were discussing what happened and we hoped for the best that he wasn’t a scam artist. Approximately 10-15minutes later, the Grab Car Driver called (I was relieved when he called because I thought to myself, the driver is safe).
The driver said: “Ma’am manloloko nga po siya. Nagpababa siya sa Shell Residences dahil may ipaduplicate na susi. Humingi po ako ng kahit isang daang piso (to pay for the ride), hindi ako binigyan. Humamon nga po ng suntukan. Marunong din magtagalog. Hindi na po bumalik”
I told the driver: “Sir buti nalang okay po kayo, ligtas at hindi kayo sinaktan. Buti malapit lang Ang pinuntahan. Sinumbong niyo po ba sa guards diyan?”
The driver said: “Wala nga po mga guwardiya dito, pero sinabihan ko mga Tao dito”
I said: “Sige po salamat, pasensiya po sa abala at mabuti po ok po kayo”
We ended the conversation by laughing at it, being thankful that no one got hurt and greeting each other A Happy New Year.
Now it’s my turn to share this story. Please be careful especially those who exercise early in the morning and to all fellow paddlers who arrive early for training. This guy knows his way around Manila, will say anything to get you to help him, and he hasn’t been caught yet. Let’s use the power of Social Media to warn our loved ones and innocent people.
How does this scam artist look like: He’s pale white skinned about 5’6 in height, could be in his late thirties to early 40’s.
It’s a New Year and A New Lesson. Be careful guys because people like him exist and pop up when you least expect them. I’m thankful no one got hurt. I hope that 400 pesos gets him decent meals if he needed to scam to earn. Stay safe everyone!
RECENT UPDATE: (here is his photo) A friend saw this post and shared the FB post of another person who encountered him. It’s him but doesn’t have the beard and mustache anymore.
Journalist, James Deakin’s personal encounter with this guy was picked up by When in Manila. https://www.wheninmanila.com/bleeding-man-scam-foreigner-al…/
From Dr. Rafael Cabredo of DLSU Manila: “Encountered this scammer several times. First: CCP (vito cruz cor. Roxas), Second: Midas hotel parking lot (along Roxas blvd), Third: near DLSU (along Taft avenue). Looks like his area is within that vicinity. If you see him, report to the authorities.”
About the Grab Car Driver: He has been taken cared of
We urge the public to be vigilant and share this post for awareness. We urge the PNP to have immediate action and investigation towards the detention of this person.
What do you think of this story? Have you been victimized as well?
As a forigner who visits regulary, I have heard somone else mention him and his story does sound like a scam. I really hope he is caught.
With that said, if anyone wants to see a scam, let me know I would be happy to show you how Taxi drivers rip of forigners in Manila.How airport employees try to demand fines for non existand violatons. How there is a guy who sits in front of Robinsons Place and claims to be from your hotel and asks for a tip. How there are ladies who stop you at the entrence to Boracay and try to trick you into changing hotels. How the guards at the jetty bort in Boracay try to trick forigners into paying twice.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Philippines. The people, the food, the history, the faith, but there is an old saying “A fool and his money are soon parted”
When you hear a story from a street person, one should assume it is a scam.
I am told constatly to never give money to street children.
I would suggest that one never give money to street people, it does not help them.
If I heard a story like this, and I believed it based on questions I asked, I might concider paying a driver to take the person to the embassy, but I would NEVER give them money, as it is rare they will do somthing honorable with the money. For those who want to look at it from a religious point of view, Jesus told of how the Good Samaritan took care of the wounded traveler himself, when there was a cost, he paid it directly to the inn keeper (Luke 10:35) Matthew 25:40 suggests we aid those in needm but it suggests the attention be more direct and personal (Food, clothing, companionship)
Oh my gee! Same story same man. he got away with 200 pesos from us..
Detention? Just get him back to whatever nation he is from? If he is from the States, the Embassy will get him back and make him pay for the flights later.
Yes, he tried to victimize me too. And believe it or not, it happened more than 5 years ago at the CCP Parking area! He approached me with the same miserable story about being robbed and was asking for a few hundreds. I immediately doubted the guy because he was filthy and smelling, has an uncomfortable tone in his voice, and definitely not in a tourist demeanor. And besides, the police precint was just nearby. I told him to go to the US Embassy for help and I could drop him off there. No, he doesnt want to and insisted on getting cash. When I told him that I can’t and won’t give him any, that’s when he began talking in a NOT so nice way. WHY THE HELL IS THIS EXPAT TALKIN TO ME THIS WAY? Thats when I started to be not nice too. I told him ” If you dont f#ck off and leave, I can and I will beat the s#!t out of you!”. He distanced himself a bit but his cussing continued. So I began to approach him, and thats when he realized he was about to have a taste of the local “delicacy” from Paquiaos’ homeland… he walked away.
I was bewildered then. I’m used to parking boys and street beggars, and they ask nicely. But to experience an “extortive” encounter like that…………. Aba! Parang PBA! May import na! LoL!
Mam Marita natanong ba nila name ng foriegner?… last christmas, My relatives and I encountered a foriegner while we were eating in the side-walk somewhere in Pasay(di ko alam ng place bsta papuntang Bay Walk na yun galing MoA). He asked for some water and after that he starts telling his story. He said that he was been robbed in Espanya and then he reported it to the police but according to him the police cannot accompany him to his home in Libis until tomorrow so he decided to walked but he got in the wrong direction. He even showed us his dirty feet wearing Flip-flop. So my uncle, since we have a vehicle with us, decided to take him with us to C5, Housing where we could take him a taxi. While on the road, we were able to get his name and his address in Libis(not sure if it is true). I ask him if he has FB account, he said, he don’t have one kasi daw nangunguha ng information ng government sa FB. at nagtataka pa ako pag may nasasabi akong Police naiirita sya. 440 pesos bali ang nabigay nmin sa knya.
Anyway, He said his name is Christian Arnold Madison Flanders, he said his from New York and he rans a Lumber Company, Eastwood Libis Q.C, Brgy Bagumbayan Landmark: Eastwood Mall