The Tale of the Infamous Swindler

Disclaimer: This was not posted to encourage readers to replicate the crimes mentioned. This was supposed to be an entry on my column for our university publication but for some reason it was not published. This was done 4 years ago.

Not so long ago, i get to mingle with millionares. They’re maybe rich but their lives are full of shit! Maybe because they engaged themselves in fraudulent scheme for making a quick profit.
Internet scams and fraudulent transactions is currently unbeatable. Even Philippine Law don’t have the jurisdiction about it. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8792 (AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RECOGNITION AND USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND DOCUMENTS, PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL USE THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES) does not even specifically mentioned about internet scams and their corresponding penalties. This in turn aggravated the culprits’ confidence of doing the same scam over and over again.
I met Kim ( not his real name) at the school canteen. After several texts and calls, he finally decided to walk me through the process of the business that sends him to college. At first glance you can’t tell that Kim had been veteran in this crap. He admitted to me that at times, fears overcomes his spine everytime he goes to the nearest internet cafe beside his apartment. He usually does weeks before examinations.

Kim is a reflection of poverty. Though he can now afford to buy branded apparels, it still shows that he came from a poor family. His father is a tricycle driver and her mother is a plain housewife. He had seven other siblings and as the eldest, his parents are expecting too much from him. He usually visits our office before, to have his Exam permit signed after having passed the 20% discount the school offered. But lately, he refrained from doing such because his scholarship has ended after he flunked on his english class. Driven by his will to finish college to appease his parents from poverty, Kim decided to search for money that would help him earn a degree. And unfortunately, he wanted it quick and instant!

Method
After some drinks, Kim invited me to go with him in the nearest cafe to give me an idea how he’d done it. After logging in to his EURO.COM account, he immediately checked some messages on his inbox. There were plenty of them. He was even so generous to have me read some of his mails. Few are Hi’s and How are you’s and most of which are “i’m interested in you”. I asked him to show me his picture on the profile and i was shocked to see how foreigners would most likely liked his catchy pictures. According to him he just took the picture of a woman in her early 20’s from Friendster. Who would expect that the person behind those female picture is actually a man?

I was about to get my prepared questions for the interview when something pop ups the screen. It was a chat server. Someone from Texas wants to talk to him. Kim talked to a man named Karlis. As i go over Karlis’ profile, i found out that he just ended his previous marriage and is now looking for an internet wife. I noticed that the two had a different bonding. I later learned that Karlis was already his boyfriend.

It was a week before exam, and Kim told me he badly needed money to pay for the tuition and Karlis’ online status is so timely for him. He told Karlis that his lola was in the hospital and he needed to consolidate the hospital bills. Without a second thought (maybe) Karlis immediately promised him to send a hundred dollar. Kim was so happy and i was still shocked. I couldn’t believe it. I just can’t believe that some foreigners could be easily fooled by some petty dramas and alibis! After half an hour of waiting, Karlis got online again and gave him the control number for the hundred dollar to be pulled out from Western Union.

Geisha: Are you not scared of being caught as a man other than a woman?
Kim: No. If he noticed that I am a man, I will delete my account and pictures and start all over again. As simple as that.
Geisha: Do you always get money from people who get to know you on the net?
Kim: Sometimes. There are others who wants to see you naked in exchange for some bucks but I don’t stoop at them. I knew they’re only looking for some fun. And I’m sure I will not earn anything from them.
Geisha: What if he’ll ask you to be live on a camera?
Kim: Usually they did. But i always had a chance to give them reasons for not doing so. Sometimes, I told them I don’t have money for it, or the café is loaded. I also told them beforehand that I lived in a small town where access to cameras are limited to those who can afford it.
Geisha: How much was the lowest amount you got?
Kim: Lowest was 40 USD for the camera. He wants to see me on cam and I told him that it will cost him that amount. The biggest so far was 2500 USD as show money at the US Embassy.
Geisha: What?
Kim: Yup. I was even surprised about it. He told me that he’ll marry me in the States. He send me money for Visa processing, for the tickets and for show money. When he send me that amount I told him every pertinent papers are already done. I need it as a standing fund on my account during my visa interview.
Geisha: Where did you spent that amount?
Kim: I bought father a motocycle for pampasada (ulitity vehicle) and I gave mother enough money to start a small grocery store. I buy some stuffs, cellphones and personal effects. The others were spent for my tuition fee.
Geisha: What will you tell them if they’ll ask you why you didn’t make it to the states?
Kim: I told them I was a victim of illegal fixer and that my passport and visa are fake. I also told them that I was denied on my visa. After that, I will delete my online account and pictures and start all over again using another screen name.
Geisha: This is a personal question, do you believe in karma?
Kim: Yes of course. I always hoped that nothing will happen to me and my family. I know that some of my chat mates get broke after sending me money so I always pray for them
Geisha: How do you convince them to send you money?
Kim: I don’t convince them. I had to establish a rapport first before asking some bucks from them. Mostly, those that’s sends me money are my lovers. You have to be lovers first before you can ask them for your shopping, medicines, house bills and other stuffs. More often than not, they’ll send you right after you said yes to everything he wants.
Geisha: What if your chat mates will trace you through the transaction you made in western union?
Kim: Impossible. I am using a different name in my transactions at western union. They might see my real picture in the I.D. but the name is different. Besides, the people there are my friends.
Geisha: If given a chance to change things, what will it be and why?
Kim: I don’t want living in poverty. I’m tired of being poor. I am doing this because I want to support my schooling so I can help my family in the future.
Geisha: What is your message to readers out there?
Kim: I know what I did is wrong but I don’t have any choice. I don’t want you to judge me either. Don’t be like me. I promised myself to stop this crap as soon as I’ll have my degree.

It was sad to note that because of this crap, Pinay’s image may be at risk. There are dating sites where Filipinas are banned due to scams and swindling. Not just for Filipina women but for Filipinos in general. I’ve learned that Kim is not alone in his crap! I later found out that women, gays and lesbians are also doing the same thing.

I can’t blame Kim or some other Mario or Marla or Judas doing the same scam. According to famous Filipino adage “walang manloloko kung walang magpapaloko”. But we should always keep in mind that whatever we do, we should be ready to face whatever consequence possible. Kim knew about his legal and spiritual responsibilities and i understand what he’s been through.
Nonetheless, the end doesn’t justify the means!

Note: I tried calling Kim’s number but it was out of reach. I learned from a common friend that he became a drug addict and had dropped from school. Whether you call it karma or bad luck, i ask for your prayers to save one soul from misery!

Definition of Terms
Chat
Chat or online real time conversation had been evolving in fast pace since it was conceived in August 1988. Internet Relay Chat or simply chat became a byword for instant online conversation for nearly two decades. Through this, we get the chance to talk to anybody in Paris, America, Asia, Africa and Japan all at the same time! Amazing isn’t it? (We will go further about the effects of chat as we move forward).
Online Dating sites
The rise of online dating sites plays a major role in making the crime possible. All members of the society has specific dating sites. If you are gaymen or transvestites, Gay.com or Guys4men is for you. If you are a man looking for woman, Matchtrust or Mate1 is for you. Those were just examples of dating sites. It is sad to note however that some men and women settle for online dating sites to find for their partners. On the lighter side of the story, few romantic internet relationship ended up in marriage.
Account
Not a typical bank account but may also be one. Account is coined for the profile created on the dating sites. Most swindler creates a dummy account with different names and different adresses and uses pictures of showbiz personalities to entice foreigners. Assunta de Rossi, Roxan Guinoo, and Ara Mina are some of the few whose pictures are used as models.
Western Union
A company for wiring money from person to person all over the world with over 170,000 locations or outlets worldwide. Money sent over WU can be easily pulled out by showing identification cards.
Identification Cards
Drivers License, company ID’s or school ID used to collect money from Western Union. This ID can sometimes be made in Recto. In most fraudulent transactions, ID’s are named after the names used on their account or profile on dating sites to establish consistency.