Scam Artists, Beware

Let me just share a story with you guys, my dear readers or whoever you are who stumbled upon my blog whilst googling/scouring the world wide web hoping to find stories about scammers targeting property owners and buyers.

My family owns quite a few properties for sale which are all being advertised online since the internet has the biggest clout when it comes to prospect buyers because it is worldwide. Since we’re now living in the age of cyberspace, even scouting or buying a property is as easy as 1 2 3 so long as you can afford it. On the other hand, the internet has become an avenue for scammers and unscrupulous individuals trying to find easy money through luring or should I say fooling people around. 

My Dad, a senior citizen, came across this group of people or should I say ‘scammers’ who nearly conned him to shell out P300,000.00. My Dad was contacted by this alleged buyer of one of our house claiming they’re really interested and would like to see the house’s entirety. At first, they’re interested with the farm property that my family is selling, later on they said they would like to see the house inside the village as well because their so called ‘boss’ might be also interested. 

They contacted my Dad before Christmas. So, my Dad scheduled the viewing without hesitations (which was after New Years). When the alleged buyer paid our house a visit, my elder sister made sure our Dad won’t be alone for security reasons. I mean allowing a stranger to your home especially in Manila is something you always have to be careful of even if they are potential buyers. Better be safe than sorry because once they’re inside your house they can do whatever unimaginable. My sister said the alleged buyer was a Japanese national together with a middle aged woman let’s hide her under the name ‘Josie' plus another man. They gave their names but who cares as they're fictitious anyways. 

Whilst scouring the house, Josie even asked my niece who was present during the visit nosy questions such as where she goes to school etcetera. My niece described that they wore all this flashy jewelries or bling bling and they looked good enough to be legit. The suspicions set in when they started talking about this product called Orbit Protein which they will be needing for their Tuna products. 

Farm Property Story-Another buyer contacted my Dad about a week after. This time around they’re interested in our Farm property and what a coincidence (or should I say what on earth) they happened to be suppliers of Orbit Protein which the house buyer is in need of for their Tuna products. Sounds fishy right?

This is the Orbit Protein product that the 'scammers'
 are using to con their prospect victims. Thank you Irene
for sharing them.

Going back to our house for sale property, the Japanese buyer said it’s good riddance that our other potential Farm buyer supplies Orbit Protein because according to Japanese guy,  Farm buyer offered to supply them Orbit Protein at a discounted price. 

This is when Farm buyer added my Dad to their equation. For some odd reason, he said my Dad would be the middleman/intermediary between Japanese guy house buyer and Farm buyer. That, according to Farm buyer, my Dad would earn up to P125,000.00 commission for doing nothing. A lot of loop holes right? I mean, wow! How can you earn such amount of money for doing nothing? You won’t win in the lottery without playing, what are you just lucky? Then all the bluff afterwards. 

Japanese buyer mind you did not negotiate for our house’s selling price at all. They even set the date for the payment and that they will be bringing their lawyer and stuff in a few days to settle everything. One fishy thing was when Josie set the payment date to be done on a Sunday and even explained why without my sister asking for her explanation. We’re not new to this stuff since one of our properties got sold recently and let me just say that a legit buyer first and foremost negotiates, agrees to close the deal (sign deed of sale etc.) during weekdays as this is when a lawyer is usually available, office hours basically for the paper works, and most importantly they do not squish selling a product to the property owner which is SO out of context.

Continuing on, my elder sister one day was surprised to know that our Farm buyer is talking to our Dad whilst she instructed specifically to transact with her first before they talk straight to our Dad again for safety reasons. My sister is a law grad so she’s really suspicious since she knows about legal stuff etc. The Farm buyer, a Tsinoy along with a Pinoy guy, seemed to have already inoculated our dad that he’s gonna get a commission if he sold boxes of Orbit Protein to our House buyer. In the middle of their agenda, the Chinese guy (who posed as the Farm’s buyer) received a phone call from someone and eventually has gotten into a compromise with his dealer and is short with cash. Later on wants to borrow P500,000.00 from my dad since he does not have that amount handy and for all the wrong reasons my Dad even bargained for P300,000.00 as if he was hypnotised or something (heard of budol-budol?).

My sister sensed something's wrong since my Dad isn’t responding via sms anymore so she immediately drove off to our house and found that my Dad seemed to have given in to those scammers  already and was on the verge of shelling out cash. That’s when my sister interjected and with all her resolve disagreed to my Dad’s decision even if they totally argued. She said she was adamant and scared at the same time because if these guys got a gun, they could just shoot both of them point blank since she already knew their ploy. My sister said she told those guys that our Dad is never gonna be involved with whatever money issues Mr. buyer and his dealer have and we’re selling our property because we need cash then asked those men to leave and bring their boxes of Orbit Protein with them. The Chinese guy seemed very disappointed and tensed according to my sister. They left our house ASAP when they saw my sister texting (she did actually because she’s been texting all of the family members JUST in case something happens we’re all aware what’s going on). I’m here up north so my other sissy and I constantly texted our Dad to NEVER shell out any money nor provide a copy of his ID as they might use it in the future against him (identity theft) by scamming others as well (I read a news online). Our eldest sister along with her husband also immediately drove off to our house (where my sister and Dad is) with her heart throbbing out of her chest totally fearing for my sister and Dad’s life. The scammers unfortunately already left when she and her husband arrived but the good thing was my Dad and sister were safe.

My brother-in-law called his friend who works at this agency to learn more about Orbit Protein, he confirmed it was indeed a scam. 

I mean, anything could go wrong in a situation like this right? Some villains, once caught in the act immediately kill their victims so they won’t be reported. What if they have a silencer gun? Once you let strangers in, you invited danger yourself. My departed Mom still looks after us, the whole family no matter what and might’ve sent my sister to our Dad’s rescue for a possible catastrophe to happen. Two things; it’s either these people rob him and get his money OR get his money and leave him somewhere lifeless. I’m not being pessimistic, I may have an overactive imagination because I am realistic. 

So, just a little piece of advise, if you happen to be selling any property of yours may it be a house, a car, a condo unit, NEVER shell out any money because YOU ARE THE ONE SELLING for heaven's sake. You should be getting paid and not the one empty handed. If your buyer is asking to borrow money from you, they just ruined their credibility, never give a single penny. Be careful ALWAYS. Protect your safety at all times. Take caution because there’s a lot of bad out there. Always pray. It’s the best ammunition.