Yet another expat con man encounter at Ayala - "You got the time?"

[Jawny 4,617]

The best "scam" used on me was in Czechoslovakia. A young kid, maybe ten years old came up to me and spoke some gibberish, pointing to my wrist, then his. I could tell it was not my native tongue, but wasn't sure how to respond. He seemed to change the language, but by now I figured out he was asking me the time. I said in English "I don't have a watch" and showed him my bare wrist. He then spoke in pretty good English "do you have some spare change".

 

I have used my idiot look with regard to language many times. My favorite was when in was in Seoul. If you've driven in Seoul, you'll realize most drivers there have no clear idea of how to use a fast highway. So, after I had become familiar with the highway I used, I would pass a mess of cars on the right where there was a wide part of the road where two highways joined. It was perfectly safe, and clearly illegal.....even had clear signs indicating that.

 

A motorcycle policeman pulled me over. He struggled as best he could to tell me I was an idiot and he wanted to write me ticket. He finally gave up and said in his best English......,"you drive safe!!" He then left. No ticket.

[Monsoon 28,941]

scammer 001.jpg

 

Is this the guy? He used the same exact line on me, I posted his photo a few months ago and caught some flack about it

 

 

That be the guy...

 

Hmm, funny he's still looking for the time at Ayala. And some people gave me shit for just assuming he was a beggar/bum/con man. 

 

Lonely and need to ask some questions about a strange place? Get a life and do what normal people do and find a cafe, bar or other notorious expat hangout and strike up a conversation. 

 

Oh why do I call him a con man? Because that is exactly what he is. He starts off with friendly talk to 'get your confidence' then he strikes the emotional nerve then goes for the money request. 

 

Con man.  Harmless perhaps, but a spade is a spade - he's a con man.

Edited August 26, 2014 by Monsoon

[Monsoon 28,941]

 

 

It can be a good way out of a traffic ticket.  Speak only in German

 

When I lived in China we did that just speaking in English. 

[Chris24 1,041]

Monsoon, you are vindicated.  I figured you would have good read on people.  There's a difference between being friendly and being TOO friendly.  Kind of like when someone strikes up a conversation with you, and before the third sentence is even done you can tell it's rehearsed, and they're about to either try to sell you Amway or whatever or try some other scheme.

Edited August 26, 2014 by Chris24

[Monsoon 28,941]

Its just annoying. It is one thing to trip over the street kids and other misc beggars one encounters in Fuente area around Robinsons and near Fooda on Mango. And of course there are the occasional people who just walk up to you and hand you an envelope under the guise of representing some legitimate charity. 

 

But when you get it at Ayala from foreigners, its like, WTF??

 

I go to places like Ayala to escape from the madness of the streets. And a Filipino beggar would be promptly tossed out of Ayala. Same should be done for him. 

Edited August 26, 2014 by Monsoon

[throttleplate 1,898]

theres a dude whom hangs out with us,or i should say a hanger-on as he sits with all the guys and watches us drink and if he gets up for a bit to go bum a smoke as he allready bummed his quota at the table the guys talk about how they aint gonna buy him no beers again but after the guys start gettin wasted then some feel sorry for the dude and buy him a beer and then before ya know it the guy is gettin free beers as the round goes around the table.

 

One day he was sittin alone as nobody around and he sees me walkin by and stops me and asks me if i drink beer and i say yes and he then tells me beers are only 26php here and tells me to go buy a couple for us to drink.I decline.He then asks me where i a goin and i say grocery shopping so he asks if he can tag along so i say sure.

 

He tries to make small talk but i wasnt interested in telling him my life story and doubt he cared.When i get to the the checkout in this store they sell cigs behind the clerk and the dude says hey friend why dont you buy me a pack of smokes and i look at him and say no and he says oh come on man and i say i aint one of the other guys.The only reason he wanted to the store was to get something for free.

[SkyMan 23,691]

Have you done that?

It's in my bag of tricks.

[spydoo 2,044]

I think it's probably judging him a little harshly to call him a con man when he's really just begging. I also think it's too harsh to post photos of him online identifying him in any negative light. MHO.

[bounder 1,148]

I know it might be on the fringes of Off-Topic in regard to this thread, BUT I recall a farmer back home who actually owned three houses as well as an entire farm.  He was so cheap that when the roof of his farmhouse began to leak, he moved into a tent in the basement.  Anyway, the local fire dept had their annual fund raiser, which included a broasted chicken dinner with a free will donation.  Of course this farmer showed up and gave the attending firemen greeters at the door a secured envelope.  After he went into the line, they opened the envelope to find only pieces of blank paper.  After he had finished eating several helpings, he went to the fire chief to hint that if there were any leftovers, he would be happy to take them off their hands.  The Chief declined. 

[Monsoon 28,941]

 

 

I think it's probably judging him a little harshly to call him a con man when he's really just begging.

 

No, he is a con man. Beggars just sit on the street corner with cups, signs, or walk up to you with their hand out asking for money. I always like the beggars that say, "I won't lie I need beer money."

 

A con man creates an extravagant story and background before asking for money. There's a difference. And neither of them should be allowed in Ayala. 

[Baywak 1,295]

Your in a poor country with close to a hundred million people.Some foreigners I have seen become better at begging then the poor locals.It's got to be expected that there are beggars even foreigners but there are so few.When you see them renting a kiosk in the malls to set up the craft then you can call them entrepeneurs instead of scammers and beggars and con artist.

Edited August 26, 2014 by Baywak

[arentol 1,092]

 

 

I think it's probably judging him a little harshly to call him a con man when he's really just begging. I also think it's too harsh to post photos of him online identifying him in any negative light. MHO

 

I cordially disagree. For me true beggars are old blind and/or disabled people who lack the capacity to work, but they need money to survive. I give money to those folks. I'm sure I've been tricked by some of these over the years, but that's my fault.

 

False beggars (i.e., con men), are people who don't work (though they are able) and offer a false story in order to elicit money. As Monsoon mentioned, they seek to gain your confidence falsely... hence con men.

 

As for posting a photo, I have nothing against it provided that the photo is accurate.

 

 

Cheers,

Aren

[Cebu-Viking 87]

The guy in photo with red shirt are famous in Ayala. Strange the guards hasn't kicked him out long time ago.

Approached me early 2012 with a sob story of just been robbed, and asked for money.

Also works around Fuente Circle.

[bounder 1,148]

 

 

Also works around Fuente Circle.

 

He could compete with the other vendors at selling Viagra....then he wouldn't have to beg...or panhandle.....but as the great American actor, Hunphrey Bogart was famous in saying in the movie, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, "Can you help a fellow American down on his luck?"

[smokey 21,911]

That be the guy...

 

Hmm, funny he's still looking for the time at Ayala. And some people gave me shit for just assuming he was a beggar/bum/con man. 

 

Lonely and need to ask some questions about a strange place? Get a life and do what normal people do and find a cafe, bar or other notorious expat hangout and strike up a conversation. 

 

Oh why do I call him a con man? Because that is exactly what he is. He starts off with friendly talk to 'get your confidence' then he strikes the emotional nerve then goes for the money request. 

 

Con man.  Harmless perhaps, but a spade is a spade - he's a con man.

well if that is how you define a con man your most likely meeting a few hundred a day just not with white skin