General Info

[Econo Tech]

Not sure what is your point here ET? Are you telling me to wise up?
I was very aware it was a scam as I have been chatting to these girls for a long time. I know they have no connection with Cagayan Valley or Isabela (and I do) and when they realised that I was not a sucker and knew more about the Phils geography and the typhoon than they did they slunk away.

I think you were unlucky to get hit by a scorned tampo chick.

Oops. My 'wise' up was to the other love-lorn knights in Shining armours. Not pointed at you. Relax mate. I am aware that you are smart and experienced enough.

For me. It wasn't a first time, but it was a new one on the book.

Cheers

[Red Kilt]

That's odd - when I confronted a girl in Davao for Ondoy related 'help' she turned violent accusing us foreigners of exploiting and this and that :confused: and I still dunno why she switched her story .. :D :D Maybe you got off easy

I know enough girls who have started hammering my inbox with 'assistance' and didn't bother to filter them out as the money is one-way-traffic even if asked as a loan :D Wise up.

Not sure what is your point here ET? Are you telling me to wise up?
I was very aware it was a scam as I have been chatting to these girls for a long time. I know they have no connection with Cagayan Valley or Isabela (and I do) and when they realised that I was not a sucker and knew more about the Phils geography and the typhoon than they did they slunk away.

I think you were unlucky to get hit by a scorned tampo chick.

[GoodEnough]

I don't know how many of the guys who read this forum have also traveled widely in Africa, where day-to-day scams are the normal order of business. I spent about 5 years off and on living and/working in about 14 African countries, and when I first came here to work and live I was struck by the perception that the Philippines would fit more easily into an African context than an Asian one. The subsequent 7 years have done nothing to dispel this opinion. The pervasive, endless greed and corruption, the varied scams, both big and small (practiced by big shots and common folk), the grinding poverty and the totally inability to anticipate consequences are all reminiscent of the African continent. I wonder of there's an anthropological connection that remains as yet unidentified.

GE

[Econo Tech]

The Cebu girl actually sent back a one-word message saying "sorry". ROFLMAO

That's odd - when I confronted a girl in Davao for Ondoy related 'help' she turned violent accusing us foreigners of exploiting and this and that :confused: and I still dunno why she switched her story .. :D :D Maybe you got off easy

I know enough girls who have started hammering my inbox with 'assistance' and didn't bother to filter them out as the money is one-way-traffic even if asked as a loan :D Wise up.

[Red Kilt]

I have had 3 (yes THREE) girls on DIA send me messages this evening telling me "The typhoon in Cagayan has destroyed our house - can you please help me?"

None of them lived in Northern Luzon. One actually lived in Cebu; the others in Cavite near Manila.
When I called each of them on it and asked them where they were from. I told them I know the area and I thought most of the damage was caused in northern Isabela and that I thought they were telling lies.
Each one disengaged from the conversation - no doubt to try to find some other sucker.
The Cebu girl actually sent back a one-word message saying "sorry". ROFLMAO

Be careful mates. They will try anything.

[Fast Buck Artist]

(they never heard of cheques?)

Cheques are widely forged here or dont clear for insufficient funds and nobody trusts or accepts them. Dont ask why they dont use cashier cheques I got no idea :) 3rd world country cash is king what else can be said about this manure hole.

[Econo Tech]

If you think I am being silly or alarmist. Just check the papers and see how many people who withdraw large amounts of cash from banks rather mysteriously get robbed on their way home. Why are they specifically targeted only when they have cash in hand?

The only way the robbers could know is that someone in the bank (security guard or teller's clerk or even the teller) with the inside information has passed it on.

And I bumped into a girl, who had saved about 3, 000 S$, and remitted the money to Phil, and when she was there, she went to the bank to withdraw it and pay the contractor to renovate her house (they never heard of cheques?) and as she walked out, she was stabbed and money was stolen. I thought it was a con story. Turned out it was a real story. As I was in Phil about a week after hearing the news, and she was still recovering from the stab wounds.

Anyway, atleast in Makati. Most of the banks have strict "no cell phones", "and no helmets" and "no scarfs" etc. And I always wondered why.

[Rubberyman]

Won another 30K last night. I'm not too sure about going to malate with 100K pesos in an fat enveloppe asking if the guy has 1, 600 EUROS in stock behind his crappy counter.:)

Anyway thanks for tip I'll try one of the larger bank in Makati.

I think Sammon's idea to Western Union it to yourself for collection when you get back is probably the easiest - even if it were a little more expensive, the convenience and safety of not having it on you is worth it.

[Escort Fan]

100,000 Pesos equals to little more than $2000 U.S. International standard is you can carry up to $10,000. Not sure aout Phi law in case they search you.

You cannot carry it on your person ecause unlike other airports in Phi they pat you down at security especially in Manila. I do not know currency shows up when they scan your bags. I do not believe it does.

You know in €uros we have 500 EUROS notes (that's extactly 700 USD).

Once the 100K pesos is turned into 3 bills of 500 euros they can pat but 3 bills is thin.

[Sammon]

Cool didn't knew pesos could be exchanged both ways. I change at those little malate vendors, they have the best rates, and I was always under the impression they exchanged one way €, £, Y, $ PHP and not vice versa.

Won another 30K last night. I'm not too sure about going to malate with 100K pesos in an fat enveloppe asking if the guy has 1, 600 EUROS in stock behind his crappy counter.:)

Anyway thanks for tip I'll try one of the larger bank in Makati.

100,000 Pesos equals to little more than $2000 U.S. International standard is you can carry up to $10,000. Not sure aout Phi law in case they search you.
You cannot carry it on your person ecause unlike other airports in Phi they pat you down at security especially in Manila. I do not know currency shows up when they scan your bags. I do not believe it does.
Some of the money you can send it out of Phi via western union. The exchange rate maybe off not to mention the charges.
If you can convert into dollars in Phi you can take the money with with no questions asked. I think it is etter to go to AC and talk to expats including bar managers. They maybe able to help you.

[Jambo]

The only way the robbers could know is that someone in the bank (security guard or teller's clerk or even the teller) with the inside information has passed it on..

Portable Cell Phone Jammer
http://www.phonejammer.com/product.p...0&bestseller=Y

[Red Kilt]

Won another 30K last night. I'm not too sure about going to malate with 100K pesos in an fat enveloppe asking if the guy has 1, 600 EUROS in stock behind his crappy counter.:)

Are you staying in the casino EF?
Just be very very careful about who sees you winning 80,000 php at the casino. There are guys around who watch for that sort of thing and follow you home.

Like wise, when you leave the money changers with your Euros, be sure that the changer hasn't called his mate on a bike waiting around the corner who will think of a way to get his money back.

If you think I am being silly or alarmist - just check the papers and see how many people who withdraw large amounts of cash from banks rather mysteriously get robbed on their way home. Why are they specifically targeted only when they have cash in hand?
The only way the robbers could know is that someone in the bank (security guard or teller's clerk or even the teller) with the inside information has passed it on.

Believe me - scams like these are an art form in the Phils.

[Paul C]

Is it possible to buy smartbuddy (or globe) pre paid Micro SIM card for the Iphone 4?

I jailbreaked it and ran snow whatever thinggie, so it should accept the philippine SIM.

I guess I should go to the smart office in Robinson.

But what are the prices, and how can I buy 3G credit so I can get my emails and stuff without having to worry about trafic and RIP OFF roaming at 10 EUROS per MB.

Thanks

You can get a SMART micro SIM at any SMART Wireless Center. It's P40 for a prepaid micro SIM.

You can get the micro sim for the iPhone4 and the iPad only from Globe here, and it costs Php 1,000 per month for unlimited net access and downloads. That is, if you don't want to cut down an existing sim. When I was in Singapore about a month ago, I bought a small cutting instrument designed to cut down regular-size sim cards to the micro size. It works fine as well. There are also small kiosk-like shops that offer the "trimming to micro size" service and will do it for you for a couple of dollars. I don't think you can get the sim from Globe without a plan.

GE

Greenhills Theater Mall 2FL at DJGT shop will cut your SIM for free and a lot of other stalls at Greenhills and Marketmarket will cut it for P50, or free if you buy a micro SIM adapter.

[Paul C]

Escort Fan,

A year back I was in a similar spot. I had about 300K pesos that I needed to convert to dollars and I found that unfortunately almost every money changer could only exchange small amounts or would not exchange pesos to dollars at all.

Yes, you can open a bank account somewhat easily (just need to bring your ID and a 2"x2" photo) but the rate that you get for selling dollars is not exactly reasonable. Just walk into any BDO and you'll see what I mean.

I know you mentioned you're looking for Euros but if you need USD at all, I could offer to give you dollars for your pesos.

[Econo Tech]

Cool didn't knew pesos could be exchanged both ways. I change at those little malate vendors, they have the best rates, and I was always under the impression they exchanged one way €, £, Y, $ PHP and not vice versa.

What did you think the money changer does with the US$/Euro or JPY he gets from the tourists? Put them in a washing machine and convert to Peso?