Watch For Filipina Scams

I would suppose I must be some sort of expert on the scams Filipinas will try to get money out of us foreigners since I've been in the Philippines for 7 years. I've probably heard about them all. I would say it is about time I listed them.

1. FILIPINAS LIKE TO SAY THEY WILL GO MOST ANYWHERE AND DO MOST ANYTHING to be with you on any given date you like, but the catch is they want to get the cash from you to buy the tickets or whatever and then not show up or give some lame excuse. ..... DON'T SEND CASH.... for much more than a birthday or internet chat. Something like this just happened to a friend over a house helper offer he made to a Filipina. He has special needs and had bought tickets for her and a friend to fly to Manila to help take care of him during recovery from surgery. At the last minute she asked for half a months pay. He offered to send it to her Mom. She must not have liked that because she didn't show up for the plane ride.

2. There is always someone SICK OR STARVING IN THE FAMILY, So, one way or another a cash contribution will come up. Often they don't even mention money. Some are pretty smart and use ways to get you to offer money. Members of the family and boyfriends can be behind this scam too..... DON'T SEND MUCH CASH, if any.

3. Offering a hot boogie boogie when you show up and then BRINGING ONE OR MORE FRIENDS OR THEIR MOM AND KID and then some excuse why no boogie boogie. I've never had this happen to me personally in Phil, but in the states an offer from a very hot looking lady turned out not to be the one that showed up at the door. Luckily I was smart enough to mention the wrong hotel room and could see her through the peep hole. This is also a good way to catch Filipinas with boyfriends ready to rob you when you open the door. Just tell them it's the room across the hall. If there is a guy keeping himself out of the peep hole view, call the front desk and ask them to call the police.

4. MORE THAN ONE GUY FOR CHAT. I've seen this dozens of times in internet cafes back when I had no internet service to the house. Expect it. Trust but verify somehow after you show up in Phil. Falling in love 9000 miles away is risky. There are plenty of good ones around. Just be patient. Have back up plans.

5. GIVING YOU THE WRONG ADDRESS HERE! Usually this means the Filipina has a boyfriend or is married. You may find this out if you wire any money because they will have to have proper ID to collect it. This happened to me except when she said send it to another name (her first name and a different last name), I got suspicious and broke it off.

6. SENDING YOU NUDE OR SKIMPY DRESSED PICS OR CAM SHOWS is a pretty good sign you don't want much to do with that Filipina.

7. MANY GAY AND SHE MALES HERE, so expect the unexpected.

8. BUILDING HOUSE AND BUYING CARS AND FURNITURE... if you get a lot of talk about these things, BEWARE. Take your time even after you are married. She is supposed to enjoy being with you no matter where you live and no matter what you have.

9. DON'T KEEP VALUABLES AT HOME or you are inviting someone to round up some criminals to come in and take things. There have been some stories of wives giving enough details for crooks to know exactly where you keep everything. One Australian had a loan business in Iloilo. Mysteriously the back door was unlocked, so guys came in while he was asleep and tried to make him open the safe. He wouldn't do it, so they killed him. It got opened anyway because his wife knew the combination and is suspected of setting the whole thing up.

DON'T TRUST ANYONE OVER HERE UNTIL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE. EVEN THEN IT IS BETTER TO USE A BANK LOCK BOX AND CASH DROP.
 
I'm sure there are lots of other incidents that have happened. BLIND TRUST IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!

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