Let this be a warning to all OFWs and Families of OFWs
Roi Ontiveros wrote:
My brother is just too shy to tell anyone but this actually happened to him yesterday, 02 August 2008. My brother is working in Dubai as an Architect and his wife and 3 sons are staying in Aparri, Cagayan Valley where they are renting a house. Just in the morning, my brother is still in constant communication with my sister-in-law through texting (SMS). However, just a few hours later, after lunch, somebody called my sister-in-law through their landline claiming that he is Ambassador Yap and that something has happened to my brother. That he was involved in an incident and that he had accidentally killed someone. The Embassy had already done their part in helping my brother by keeping him in a safe place. They are asking her help to right away transfer a certain amount in a bank account so that they can immediately process his papers and that my brother can immediately be sent home. My sister-in-law, who was already at the verge of nervous breakdown, immediately produced P19,000 to be sent to that bank account. She was warned not to tell my other brothers and sisters so that there will be no leakage of what they are planning to do (sending my brother back to Philippines via the back door). Only after sending the money that my sister-in-law came int her senses, after which she called my brother in Dubai . She found out too late that she was just been conned by these professional swindlers. She tried to stop the transfer of money but it was already withdrawn. These people who were pretending to be the Ambassador knew so many details about my sister-in-law. They knew her cell no., the details about my brother working in Dubai , and also about my brothers and sisters. Let this be a warning to all OFW's. These people will give bad news of death, accident, possibility of imprisonment, and other worst scenarios so as to easily swindle your loved ones. Please warn them not to easily fall to these deceptions by doing the following (please feel free to add anything that may help).
1. Remain calm. These people will try to rush you so that you cannot think properly.
2. Ask them to call again so that you can prepare the amount. Try to record the Account No., don't memorize.
3. If you have been warned not to call the OFW's cellphone because it is in the possession of the police, at least call his friends, and other relatives that may know about him. 4. Don't act immediately (send money). Even if you will consume another 10 minutes trying to figure out what to do.
5. Whatever you do, don't meet with them. I really felt sorry for my brother and sister-in-law. May this serve as a warning to all OFW's so that swindlers like these will not prosper.
