Job Discussion Forums

[Wouter]

Warning!!!

Last Saturday a American guy that spoke fluently Spanish came in and told us the following story.

He told us that he lives in Chapala and is going to return to the states. He want to give away his furniture because he doesnt have the time to sell it. He doenst ask for money for the furniture. We spoke about two hours with him at my house in Tlaquepaque and he knew the area perfectly. Knew the streets, new where the schools were and told us about the hotels in the area. He offered to bring the furniture at doesnt want to have money for it. He told us that he was going to bring the furniture the same day. Only at the last moment he asks if you can give him some money for the gasoline. Sounds really stupid but I felt for it and gave him 300 pesos. Ofcourse he never returned.

Watch out for this man. Here is his description.

Big overweight guy about 1,90 meter. Wite hair with a bold crown.
He has spots on his forhead. Some sort of skin desease I guess.
When I saw him he wore jeans with a grey shirt, cowboy booths whish made a metal sound when he walked.
He introduced him self as Jerry but probably has several names.
And leather belt.

We tried to find him the same day by visiting several hotels in the area and some people who saw a man mathing this discription told us that he stayed in Casa de las Flores. When I visited the hotel. Two people who worked there told me that they had a man in their hotel mathing the discription. He was not in at the moment but was going to return at six. I returned around six and asked for the manager from the hotel to tell him about this. For some strange reason he denied that he had someone mathing the discription in his hotel. He showed me one guy that was staying in his hotel but did not match the discription at all. Looked like a Mexican with brown hair.

I asked several people in the street in front of the hotel if they saw a man matching the discription and several said yes. I have the feeling that the owner knew this people and protected them. He left around six oclock the hotel, I heard later.

We also went to another hotel were he said that he was staying. They told us that he stayed there around 4 months ago and did the same trick with some other people trying the get money for gasoline. Also he was trying to sell leather jackets.

We think he is a regular visitor of Tlaquepaque every 4 months. He probably does this trick everywhere. Be aware of this conman. The thing is that he knows the law. The police told us that we have to find him in 72 hours otherwise they cant charge him. Anybody who sees this man, please make a photo so we can post this on the forums.

If anybody has seen this man please write me a private message. I live in Tlaquepaque and would be really glad if we can catch this guy. I am willing to travel around to find this guy.

Wouter

[Samantha]

Did the police say what he would be charged with? He probably used the money for gasoline, just like he told you he was going to. Not sure that's fraud, and it's not theft since you handed it over. People come to our door asking for money for all kinds of things, usually food, clothes or medicine. Whether they actually use it for that I will never know.

He sounds like a slime-ball for sure, though and is probably on a *working* vacation. Perhaps Immigration may like to know about him since guys like that have usually long over-stayed their FMT's and can be hoisted out of the country. You sound like a great detective, by the way!

[Wouter]

Thanks for the tip about the immigration office. Posted this message on about 40 forums about Mexico so hopefully get some more info about this guy. He is easely recognisable by his spots on his forhead.

For me it is not important how they call it but it is theft to me. You are right that law wise it would be a hard case but I think that it will do him a lot of harm if in some way his photo is published. Also if I get a photo maybe the american consulate here in Guadalajara can do something. I know some people working there.

With a photo I would love to see if some magazines like Lake Chapala Review would want to publish something. I know also a person who works there.

I will make his live as difficult as possible.

Wouter

[ls650]

I don't wanna be rude, but isn't this a little overboard for a measly 30 bucks? C'mon; the guy screwed you, sure, but are you gonna give yourself an ulcer over this?

[Wouter]

I can tell you that people like this can survive because people like you and of course people like me But if everybody dont care nothing will happen, right. They expect that people dont do anything thats why they dont ask a lot of money but enough to make some good money. If they would scam a thousand pesos people would stand up.

I was surprised how many reactions I had on this message (posted the message on about 30 forums about Mexico) from people who just more or less said just forget it. I wonder were the line is. Is 500 pesos enough to do something??

Wouter

[Samantha]

In all honesty Wouter, I think people are only trying to tell you that you learned a lesson but got off real easy. Foreigners tend to become very trusting of other foreigners here in Mexico, people you wouldn't likely have given the time of day to in your own country. In other words we become really trusting suddenly.

I can speak from experience because one of my private clients is a lawyer who has broken into the "gringo" market and consequently handles some really *interesting* civil cases. I assist him with the documents and translations. It takes forever to get a case through court here, even if BIG money is at stake and it usually is.

To tell you how awful some people can be as an example....an American guy pretending to be a big time lawyer and investor just got arrested after (among other things) RENTING a bunch of cars and then giving them away as gifts to Mexicans that he wanted to do business with (and impress, so he was playing the rich big shot). Hertz was NOT impressed! The police seized all the stolen cars but by this time, Mr. Big had blown town. He is currently sitting in a jail cell in a city south of us where I hope he remains for a very long time.

I have seen so many scams since living here I could write a book, and it is actually rather sickening because Mexicans especially really do trust foreigners at their word. So don't take the general reaction personally....there is really not a lot that can be effectively done in your case, Wouter. Putting out the word on the English forums works as a preventative measure for others. People have done that effectively here too.

[ls650]

[Cdaniels]

Its sad that someone took advantage of your generosity like that, Wouter. But maybe you could use that energy to find out where Moonraven disppeared to? Many of us are still wondering what happened to her.

[Wouter]

[ls650]

Ah, but that's comparing apples and oranges, my friend.
Of course I'm wasting a lot of time posting here, but the difference is that I enjoy posting here, and I'm not gonna give myself an ulcer doing so.

[Wouter]

No worries. It is kind a fun trying to make this guys live a little bit more difficult. I often look at these forums where I posted so dont think that I went searching for all these forums so that I can post this message.

It is not about the money. It is these kind of people that I dont like. I gladly report him at the immigration office or go to the American Ambasy. With a smile on my face.

Also I think it is good to make people aware when they see these kind of people. Hopefully someday he will try it on somebody who read this post.

You are right with the apples and pears but for geting the ulcer.

Wouter

[ls650]

Well, good luck. I hope you catch the *beep*.