Scams In Philippines

Don't get scammed

Scams

Don't Get Scammed in the Philippines

There are many scammers in the world. Study at these links to avoid becoming a victim of scams. Number one is NEVER send money to someone you met online! Number two is NEVER give money to someone you met in person if you have not gotten to know them in person over a few weeks or months. 

There are all kinds of scams you could easily fall victim to.

"I need capitol for my business." 

"I lost my money in a taxi." 

"I lost my money to buy my school books."

"I love you so much. Can you help me?"

"My relative (grandma, grandpa, Mom, Dad or baby) is sick." 

"Can you lend me some money for food?"

If you ever give or lend money you must assume you will never see it again. It is GONE. So, unless you are a very rich philanthropist don't even think about it. You might as well gamble away your nest egg before you rent or buy a nest for you and your future sweetheart. Then where is the money to court the lady or girl of your dreams? You will need money for dinner dates, movies, game rooms, 

fast food lunches,

the zoo, 

taxi rides, 

train rides, 

tricycles, 

jeepneys, 

buses and

trains.

Have fun with her!

I'm sure there are many honest and lovely Filipinas (like the one I met in the Philippines.) They will be faithful and will stick with you through thick and thin. You take care of them and they will take care of you. Filipinas make the best wives and mothers on earth.

Save your money to build a life with your new love.

Read more about meeting ladies and how to

avoid scams in the Philippines.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about read about avoiding scams in the Philippines. Uploaded July 29, 2022.

Avoid Crime in Philippines

Crime in The Philippines

Avoid Criminals in the Philippines

Setups in hotel rooms - legal age lady invites an underage girl to the room (a "sister," "cousin," etc.) - next thing you know a police officer will be at the door. You will need an attorney!

Pickpockets in malls, in jeepneys, on sidewalks, in crowds.

Robbery at gunpoint - stay alert.

Be careful where you walk at night.

Ask someone where not to walk (eg. a security guard or a desk clerk at your hotel.)

Snatchers - will grab the necklace off your girl's neck and run.

Someone tries to befriend you - "Hey Joe, I've been to the US also..." - don't answer, just keep walking.

Someone tries to sell you a gun - it is illegal for foreigners to own guns - see self defense in the Philippines.

Be especially alert in bus stations.

On the bus, sit near the front of the bus so that you can make a hasty exit if armed robbers get on the bus and start demanding money (advice from a police officer.)

The two locks shown above will adjust to fit different inswing doors.

Carry some kind of traveler's security door lock to use when staying in hotel rooms. Try it when you preview the room. Make sure it fits the door before you check in.

On two occasions someone has tried to get into my hotel room in the Philippines. One time, at a cheap hotel in Batangas, the person used a tool, which left marks on the door and door frame, while we were sleeping. In the morning I noticed a lot of pry marks and it was hard to open the door. The other time, at the Mariche Apartelle in Cavite (across from SM Bacoor Mall), we were awake and heard someone trying our door. Both times I had inserted a steel lock like the one in the second image. It foiled both attempts to get in.

If you would like to order a lock, like the one I use, contact me. This lock works on doors which swing into the room.

Here is an idea for a makeshift lock made out of a common dinner fork. It does not appear very secure, but it looks like it would make some noise if entry was attempted, and it would provide more security than no lock at all.

Avoid Criminals. DO NOT do the following:

Do not wear gold jewelry in the Philippines.
Do not wear diamond rings in the Philippines.
Do not wear expensive glasses in the Philippines.
Do not wear expensive watches in the Philippines.
Do not display expensive cell phones or tablets.
Do not drive expensive cars in the Philippines.
Do not carry a lot of cash.
Do not hire taxicabs that have no signs on the doors or on the windowsills inside the car.
Do not walk on dark streets.
Do not be a belligerent, overbearing, bossy foreigner.

Never call anyone "stupid" if you value your life.
Always be "nice" and respectful.

Maintain a low profile as much as possible.
However, all Anglos are considered "rich" by the majority of Filipinos. In fact, all foreigners are considered rich.

Do not buy gold jewelry or diamonds or any expensive items for your Filipino girlfriend. Unless she is rich by Philippine standards, she or some member of her family will probably eventually pawn them (if they have not already been stolen from her by a stranger, "friend" or family member.) Save these purchases for after you are married. Keep in mind she may be a scammer.

This is not a complete list of tips but it should be helpful. Will add more later.

Be alert and have a good time in the Philippines.

Have you been a victim of a break in, a snatcher or a pickpocket? Or do you have ideas regarding security? Please share your experience or suggestions with other readers by making a comment below.

Update Sept. 25, 2015: Abduction close to Davao on the island of Mindanao. Read a startling and enlightening news report about it here. 

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about crime in the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Poverty in the Philippines

 

Poverty in the Philippines

Poverty in the Philippines

Watch the shocking video above to learn about poverty in the Philippines.

Watch a TED talk by Gary Haugen. He discusses the hidden reasons for poverty and the solution.

Read about poverty from the viewpoint of a young girl who is living in poverty in the Philippines. There are many boys and girls who go to bed hungry at night.

I have lived in the Philippines for 5 years and have seen many levels of poverty. From the totally destitute to squatters who live in rather nice neighborhoods with paved streets. From those who are forced by poverty to sleep on sidewalks, to live under overpasses, under bridges, to living in makeshift wooden structures near railroad tracks or living in stilt "houses" over the edge of waterways.

28 percent of the population is living below the poverty level. These people are no different than you or I. They have feelings and emotions just like us. Many are educated. They speak their local dialects AND English! Most just lack employment. Many people travel from the provinces to the big cities in search of opportunity. Some find employment which allows them to climb up out of their meager existence. Many do not.

But most have a great love of family. And immediate family members are very close and supportive of each other. I lived with my new family for a year in a compound in Paranaque City in the Greater Manila area. It is a sort of apartment complex of about 20 attached units around a central "courtyard." About 20 families live there. The children play in the courtyard, the women do laundry and hang it up to dry in the courtyard and the older ladies watch the children play so the others can tend to babies, cooking and household chores. If a family is in need the others will help as much as possible.

See a Wikipedia article about poverty in the Philippines ("Philippines' poverty line marks a per capita income of 16,841 pesos a year.") See another article about income inequality in the Philippines.

"As for social spending to provide better health, education, and other social services, the situation is even worse. At 28 per cent of the population, the poverty rate is at the same level as in the early 1990’s." Excerpt from a Rappler dot com article.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about poverty in the Philippines. This page last updated May 1, 2022.

Operation Smile Philippines

Help kids with "Hair Lip"

 Donate

Visit Operation Smile web site.

Operation Smile corrects,

"Cleft Lip" and "Cleft Palate"

Thanks to you if you donated this year!
Over 740 boys and girls have had the free corrective surgery in the Philippines so far this year (2014).

Many parents cannot afford corrective surgery for cleft Palate. Their children suffer the consequences. Families even need help to get their children to evaluation sites prior to surgeries.

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After dining please consider sharing some of your wealth with street children and orphanages in the Philippines.

Want some familiar foods? You will find many American fast food franchises in the Philippines.  This is an extensive list with links to help you find local branches near you as you travel the Philippines.

Be careful, check out Foods To Avoid in the Philippines.

Find grocery stores in the Philippines. In these stores you will be able to find some American foods, drinks and snacks.

Try some Filipino foods Americans like.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about Operation Smile in the Philippines. This page last updated April 28, 2022.

Street Children Philippines

Street children in Philippines

Feeding Street Children in the Philippines

Street Children in the Philippines

You can help by supporting one of the following missions:

"Child Hope"

"Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association"

"Chosen Children Village - Helping Special Needs Children Thrive"

"Precious Heritage Children's Home"

Check out my page about poverty in the Philippines.

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Try a restaurant near you. After dining, please consider sharing some of your wealth with street children ministries and orphanages in the Philippines. On occasion I have seen someone in need and shared with them. For example, I was walking in the discount shopping area of Baclaran, and an obviously destitute young lady walked past me carrying her young baby. I gave her 100 pesos.

Want some familiar foods? You will find many American fast food franchises in the Philippines.  This is an extensive list with links to help you find local branches near you as you travel the Philippines.

Be careful, check out Foods To Avoid in the Philippines.

Find grocery stores in the Philippines. In these stores you will be able to find some American foods, drinks and snacks.

Try some Filipino foods Americans like.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about street children, hunger and orphanages in the Philippines. This page updated June 4, 2022.

Filipina Ladies Philippines

Filipina Ladies

Filipina Young Ladies of the Philippines

Visit the Philippines to meet ladies. 

A good way to avoid being scammed is to come to the Philippines and meet young ladies in shopping malls, stores, churches and restaurants. Most Filipinas are approachable and easy to talk with. Most you meet will speak English; it is taught in schools all over the Philippines. There are rich young ladies and middle-class young ladies. But there are many more poor young ladies. Search online to find your potential Filipina matches. Many American men have done so and a lot of them have found and married some amazing ladies.

I honestly believe that no matter what age you are, what you look like or how much or how little money you have, you will be able to find Miss Right. There are about 300,000 Americans living in the Philippines full time, in cities all over the country. In Angeles City alone there are about 30,000 Americans. Some are single but many are married to beautiful and loving Filipinas. Americans can be seen walking, riding in trikes, eating in fast food restaurants, dining in fine restaurants and shopping in malls in the Philippines with their girlfriends, wives and many with their families. Especially in the SM Clark mall in Angeles City.

Take a break and spend a holiday in the Philippines. You may very well meet a lovely Filipina and fall in love. Or plan to go there to meet a few of your favorite Filipina chat mates, like I did. I wound up married to a Filipina. We married in the Philippines.

If your goal is marriage you are required to go meet with her in the Philippines. You cannot marry any foreigner and bring her to the USA unless you can document meeting her in her country. Keep copies of emails, photos of the two of you together and with her family (with time and date stamp), times and dates of meeting, brief diary of places you have been together, airline tickets if you travel in country with her. I have gone through the process and will write about it soon. It is complicated but we did it without an attorney and saved a lot of money. If you are employed, you will be limited by the length of your vacation. If you are retired, you can stay in the Philippines until you have both made the requisite visits to the US Embassy in Manila and the process is completed. It will be well worth it. Bring her back to the USA with you or rent an apartment, buy a condo, or buy a house with her and stay and live in the Philippines.

Warning, do some research to avoid being scammed

The "Christian Filipina" site has some advice about avoiding scammers and some sad stories about some who have been scammed (in the comments section). 

Another word of caution, never send money to anyone you meet online and have not met in person.

A respectable Filipina or Filipino will not ask for money online. Beware, there are always a few "bad apples." Some of the most effective scams are, requests for money to help pay medical expenses for self or a relative, financial help because "my purse was stolen" (or lost), "need help to pay my school tuition," and the list goes on.

Beware of scammers from other countries. There are scammers online from a lot of countries. Search "online dating scams." Read more about how scammers using Russia and African countries top the list of countries with the most scammers.

Here are some more articles about scammers.

Connecting Singles : Anti-Scam

Are you an older guy? Check out this advice.

An introduction to love or dating scams.

Before you leave this page be sure to check out some investigation firms:

Wymoo International -- See Wymoo videos.

Zele Investigations

Philippine PI

I have not checked out these firms, so use due diligence if you plan to hire one of them.

WARNING: There are a lot of transgender Filipinos! Beware, they look like young ladies, and sometimes they even appear to be the prettiest ladies around. Get proof!

Dating Filipina girls and Dating Filipina ladies

The best online site I have seen is Filipino Cupid. I believe this was previously called Filipina Heart. Many great search parameters. There you will be able to find Filipino ladies and men. I met my wife through Filipina Heart.

Some other web sites of note are "Filipina Match" and "Cebuanas."

If you are inclined to sex or hooking up it is advisable to take U.S. condoms with you because they are not available all over in the Philippines. But they may be available at major drug stores and 7-11 stores.

Mercury Drug Stores

Watson's Drug stores

Generics

Or order from Lazada

Map Mercury Drugs

Search the Web to find out about the "Underage Girl Scam" and the "bar check padding scam."

Find out about having a baby in the Philippines.

If you get in trouble in the Philippines check out my article about Attorneys in the Philippines.

Buying Second Hand Cars in the Philippines

Manners while riding in jeepneys.

Manners when riding in tricycles.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about meeting Filipina girls and ladies in the Philippines. This page last updated June 17, 2022.