Scams and Spams: High-tech crime but low tech gov't

The Philippine Government is still struggling on solving cyber-crime cases. Lot's people are swindled and scammed online. While the people who give money are also ones to blame, there must some way to minimize these crimes which go unnoticed.

Here are some of the basic scams used in the internet:
1. Send money and go - buyer sends money, then the seller closes all his/her accounts.

2. Consignment - One person will ask you if you can sell his or her items with some profit percentage. After some 2-3 transactions, some of your buyers will cry saying that they did not receive the items, or of they received it, they will complain that you sent a stolen product, hurting your reputation.

3. Non payment of debt - a long lost friend, family or previous classmate will message you in FB. After some time of chatting together, they will ask for a business investment, or ask for you some money as there is an emergency. After sending the money, they will disappear.

4. Online payment disputes - Some people put payment disuputes in Paypal, Payza, Moneybookers, etc.
Very bad as your account might get locked because of this.

5. When you buy something online, the buyer pays but the seller will deliver a fake item, a replica, or a a different item that is not on the original order. Some courier companies know about this, and sometimes the seller is in cahoots with the courier.


Check out the different modus operandi of all the scams from sulit.com.ph here:
http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+forum/id/42/Scams+and+Spams

The dreaded Ativan Gang

This one is the most dangerous gangs in the Philippines - the Ativan Gang.

Their target is mostly foreigners. They are in bars, hotels, or any public place. They put some 'sleeping medicine' on your drinks, then when you fall asleep, they steal all your money, jewelry, clothes, even worse, kidneys or other vital organs of your body.

This group existed maybe in the late 70's to early 80's. Up to know, they flourish, especially on unsuspecting foreigners or rich Filipinos.

For now, it is much better you go out with a friend. Do not go out alone! try to check your drink from time to time. If someone forces you to drink it - DON'T!

Take care everyone.

SMS Scammers

We love our mobile phone. Unfortunately, a lot of scammers are there. They will give you an SMS that you won a certain prize. Or even they are mentioning famous names like Manny Pacquiao Foundation.

Delete these SMS messages immediately! These are scams. You can post the numbers here. 

I will give some of them, I do not care if this is the number of my friend or relative, that means they are

scammers and hope they change their SIM cards right now:

639481379699   +639264766343

Armida Corbito Serrano - Non payment of debt

The problem with some Filipinos especially overseas - they are easily scammed by the people that they can trust. Even teachers, priests, nuns, are not trustworthy anymore. Worse, they split, like the case of the swindler below - Armida Corbito Serrano.

Don;t let the warm smile fool you, she is a professional and she has victimized a lot of people. Mostly from abroad. She is in Dubai right now, but upon this writing, she might be anywhere, or back home in the Philippines at Damong Maliit in Novaliches, Q.C. (She was a teacher too in Ina ng Buhay catholic School, the nerve!)

Take a good look at her Facebook photo. She immediately unfriended those people who borrowed her money.

Be very careful now when someone borrows your hard earned money. Life is hard right now and don't let anyone get it from you very easily. Take care.

Swindlers at Ever Gotesco Commonwealth

Be very careful on your belongings, as this poor victim who posted this at sulit.com.ph was traumatized with the incident. I will translate for you what happened (if you want it in Filipino, click here)

"We were eating at a fast food restaurant in Ever Gotesco called 'Hapagkainan', while we were eating, we noticed some guys who were buying at the store in a loud manner. We checked it out, then we went back eating.Then my mother noticed that her bag was gone. Just seconds only! I went outside immediately and called my mobile phone which was inside my moms bag, but it was already turned off. My mother was really traumatized with incident. There was her notebook with some client names and phone numbers, P 3,000 cash, her mobile phone and mine. The security knew all about it (they are called the Salisi Gang), but they are not doing anything."

So everyone, be careful where you eat especially on open areas, these people are lazy sons of bitches, so be very careful with your belongings.