Specifically, the first scam I wrote about: black money. This is partly because it remains widespread, but mostly because the previous edition of this magazine carried an embarrassing publicity for the scam.
The announcement said: "We are a leading company in the treatment with an SSD automatic chemical solution for cleaning black money and any color of money disfigured available in our laboratory through the world. "
I sent them the villain who placed the ad, claiming that I had his literal service money laundering. I was informed that a liter of the chemical would cost $ 14,500, and the supplier of the United States would be sent to Jakarta in a day. I have not decided to ask him to meet me inside an upscale brothel or a flooded slum.
Unfortunately, the scammer will now be using print advertising to lend credence to his sales pitch, which will be something like this: "I have $ 1 million that has been dyed black to avoid detection by customs but I can not get the stain out of banknotes. Then I saw this ad in Jakarta Expat for a special chemical to clean the money. If you can pay enough of the chemical, I will share one million dollars with you! "
A scammer recently tried to pull this scam on one of my friends at Sarinah mall She said that the foreign man was impeccably dressed and charming, and wanted Rp.15 million. - Or more if she could afford it. - to buy the chemicals to clean dollars that had been dyed black
False advertising to draw people in scams is nothing new. in Australia, England and the United States, an ad can be printed to support a scam called scam white Van President. I almost fell victim to this scam several years ago. I was in a supermarket parking lot when Australian a white van stopped next of my car. Two men in the van asked if I wanted to buy cheap speakers. They claim to be professional installers systems of its state-of-the-art. shipping workers had "accidentally charged an additional unit" in their van this morning and they wanted to have a low price.
"This is not a scam or anything," the van driver insisted. I have inspected the goods on offer and did not recognize the name of the brand. The conmen claimed this set of speakers would usually retail for over $ 3,000, but they sell it to me for only $ 700.
When I expressed doubts about the original price, they showed me a $ 3.500 sticker on the box. I told them everyone could print a fake sticker. This prompted them to play their trump card; a magazine on high-end equipment, containing a full page advertisement for this very price of $ 3.499.
I always balked at the price because I do not wear $ 700 for a trip to the supermarket. "You can drive to an ATM and get money, and we'll follow you," said the driver. I was still not convinced. Sensing my hesitation, they reduced the price of $ 500. I haggled a little more and have up to $ 300. that was good enough for me. I drove to the ATM and withdrew the money.
"Because we give it to you for a price too low, you owe us a case of beer, eh? "said the driver affability. I did not want to buy even a single beer can for these guys. Before giving my money, I asked to see specifications and products once again. I was too ignorant to know a woofer from a tweeter, but I knew something was wrong. as they loaded the speakers in the trunk of my car, I apologized and said that the agreement was not feeling well. They resumed their sound system without value close and led to the search for another sucker.
I heard of the white van scam speaker reaching Jakarta, probably because the sound systems are already cheap here. Instead, Indonesia has a host of other scams. I hope the media will give them only the negative publicity.