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Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Malilong: Swindlers on the loose
By Frank Malilong Jr.
The Other Side
BEWARE of sweet-talking strangers with promises of quick riches. They are swindlers.
They usually operate in two groups: the buyers and the sellers. The “sellers” would first approach the would-be victim offering to sell, usually on credit, an item that they would say is sought after by buyers. A couple of days later, members of the other group would pay the unsuspecting victim a visit and innocently ask if he could help them find someone who might have a supply of an item they badly need.
The description of the item will, of course, match that of the goods that the “sellers” have left earlier. The second group then buys the articles at a huge profit (one hundred percent of the cost, sometimes even more) and tells the victim that the group will be back a day or two after to buy more from him.
After that, the “sellers” would make their second visit to collect payment from the victim. Encouraged by the big margin earned from his first sale and the repeated inquiries of the buyers on the availability of the supply, the victim would then ask the “sellers” to deliver more. The latter would express willingness to oblige but this time, they would require cash payment upon delivery.
After the goods are delivered and payment is made, the “sellers” disappear. The “buyers” who have earlier persistently asked when they could buy more of the stuff from you will now give you many reasons why they couldn’t come immediately. After two or three days, when the “sellers” shall have been able to move to a safe distance with the victim’s money, the “buyers” vanish too.
The victim’s suspicions now aroused, he will then proceed to inspect the neatly packed cartons containing the “valuable” chemicals or powder. That is when he discovers that the boxes contain nothing more than cooking ingredients or flour.
Although the vermin are usually well-dressed, have calling cards with telephone numbers that answer when called and are billeted in plush hotels, the con game is easy to spot. Unfortunately, there are still many who fall for it.
One of the more recent victims is a police official who had just retired. He figured out after two visits by the swindlers that he could make more money in a few days than what he had earned during his entire life in the police service. He ended up losing practically the entire lump sum of his retirement pay.
The police say there have been other victims but few are talking or are willing to complain to the authorities because they are ashamed to admit that they have been had. I heard, however, that some of them have banded together and have engaged the services of off-duty and retired policemen to pursue the suspects, offering a huge sum as a reward.
I was told that the victims are no longer interested in recovering their losses. That is frightening.
(fmmalilong@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 19, 2006 issue)
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