One of my family member got this message. At first he thought it was really important, he’s a foreigner and can’t understand Tagalog. He had someone from our family to interpret it for him. I post this here to make you guys aware. You might be getting the same message, at least you don’t have to have somebody interpret for you, you can pretty much just compare the spelling and sentences even though it’s written in Tagalog. Some of you might fall for this. You might feel sorry for them. Think a thousand times before wanting to help out. If you help out on just an unknown email, then they know that you’re gullible. Expect more email or texting from other members of their family. With too many of these scams going on it’s hard to believe the real one anymore.
Helping is good, but try to see if it’s legit. If you give money try to ask what they need the money for.
Here’s the message it’s written in Tagalog:
“Magandang Umaga po. Ako po ay si Juan, isang estudyante sa Manila. Gusto ko po sanang lumapit at humingi ng tulong sa inyo. Tungkol po ito sa financial assistance. Nawalan po kasi ako ng malaking pera na dapat ipambabayad ko po sa tuition fee, rent at allowance ko. Lumapit na po ako sa iba’t ibang opisyal sa amin pero wala po akong natatanggap na tulong. Mahabang proseso pa po ang kailangan at pabalik-balik pa bago ka nila matulungan. Hindi ko na po alam ang gagawin ko kaya naisipan ko na pong lumapit sa inyo. Wala po akong masamang intensyon. Hindi man po tayo magkalugar pero umaasa po ako na matutulungan niyo ko. Naniniwala naman po ako na wala sa nasasakupan iyon, isang simpleng mamamayan lang din po ako na nangangailangan ng tulong. Pasensya na po talaga kayo, nakakahiya man pero dala lang po talaga ng matinding pangangailangan. Malaki man o maliit na tulong ay tatanawin ko pong utang na loob. Inaasahan ko po ang inyong sagot. Maraming salamat po sa tiwala at tulong na ibibigay niyo. Mabuhay po kayo at nawa’y pagpalain.“
The interpretation: I’m trying my very best to interpret!
“Hi Good morning. My name is Juan, I’m a student here in Manila. I wanted to come to you to ask for help, about financial assistance. I lost a big amount of money, supposed to be for my tuition fee, rent and my allowance. I already seek out help from our different officials here in our area, unfortunately I didn’t get any help from them. It’s really a long process and I had to keep coming back before I can get any assistance. I don’t really know what to do anymore, that’s the reason I came and asked help from you. I don’t have bad intention in going to you and asking help. Even though we are not in the same area, but I am hoping that you can help me. I do believed that it’s not just in the jurisdiction, but just a simple citizen wanting help. My apology, It’s really embarrassing to be asking help but I need it so badly. Big or small help, I am definitely grateful for it. I owe you. I’m hoping for your reply. Thank you so much for the trust that you gave me. God bless!“
What do you guys think? If not given any warning, would you help if you get like this kind of message? Feel free to comment. Any thought you leave, highly appreciated!
Feel free to share here if you get some scam messages that’s written in Tagalof or Bisaya. Many readers here can help out interpreting.
Cheers!
Thanks for the post Bob.
Thank you Dennis!
I think we all get these kind of messages from time to time. I am moving to the Philippines next year so thanks for the heads up! I thought the translation was very good and the person who wrote this seems to be very articulate (based on the excellent translation!) Foreigners from richer countries tend to be very generous, and I wish there was a good way to tell scams from sincere cries for help. If legitimate, I think lots of people would want to help, but so many times when you DO help, you just get inundated with more requests. There’s only so much one person can do!
Hi Steve – Thank you. Good thing for you to see before coming here to live.
***If legitimate, I think lots of people would want to help *** — I think so too.
Just scary sometimes to help because too many scammers already going around.
Thanks for the comment and good luck on your move.
Have a pleasant day!
Thanks, i would never ever fall for that garbage
Me either! Too many scammers out there! Besides money dont grow on trees, we work very hard to earn it!
Hi Nilda, good that you’re aware of it already. That’s for sure we work hard to earn money. We give to people who deserves to be given. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Feyma, I was a victim of scam before, I was trying to sell my car for 12k, someone would like to buy and send me the check of 16k, of course I felt it is a red flag, so I deposit the check anyway to see if it is valid check, 5 days latter the bank called me that the check was good and I can get the cash, they gave the cash of 16K, in my heart something is not right, so I hide my car in the garage , I cary around the bag with full of money 16thousand $$$ for 2 weeks, then the bank called me and cant get a hold of me because my phone # has change, when I pay all my bills my bank account has been closed and advice me to see the bank manager asap. So I went back to my bank with full of money in my purse and found out that the check was a scam. Glad that I dont get robbed! So I returned all the money of 16K, glad I dont go to Vegas and enjoy ??
Hi Nida, my goodness if you didn’t have that money with you, you will be in big trouble then. You don’t want to end up with bad credit too. Good thinking on your part. Good lessons for everyone here. Thanks for sharing. God bless!
Wow, good thing you were smart enough to keep the money. Of course the bank would never take responsibility for telling you the check was good. That is quite the story. Have a good day.
Yeap, a total scam, I was told to cash the check and once I got the money the agent will come to my house to get my my and a 4k cash, so the res flag is up and hide my car, I cant believe the bank told me is a good check and after they gave me the cash of 16K 2 weeks later the bank hunt me because the check was a scam. Thats why I never ever trust nobody unless I talk to them in person, especially for those people asking for help, sorry money dont grow on trees.
That’s a common scam in the states, where they create real-looking checks from a legitimate account. The bank initially pays because the funds are available, but then later come after you when the legitimate owner of the account reports the unauthorized purchase. They almost always send you a check for more than the purchase amount too, so they can at least get some cash in the deal and they send an “agent” to do the deed.
Garbage David, yes I agree! But there is always a sucker…the world is full of them.. These scams are not only prevalent in the Philippines the problem is universal. These scammers know there are gullible souls ‘everywhere’ so….why would anyone want to give money to a complete stranger in the first place?
We sold our car just the other day but insisted on cash.
It’s not always easy for someone to get hold of the cash but if they are that interested then they will obtain it.
Someone got a great deal by the way.
Cheers
AJ UK
The total scam artist was really good at this, warning to you all, there are so many scammers out there, before you even try to help, ask the complete name and address for that person that asking for help, then call the local authorities to verify to make that person is ligit and live on the address provided, this way you know for sure that it is not a scam…scammers do so many ways just to scam you, so be aware of everything because money don’t grow on trees.
Hi Nilda – That’s a good advice for our readers here. Problem sometimes the scammers are the people close to the foreigners.
Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!
I am happy to help to the homeless people who live on the street and no food to eat, I will take them to the restaurant and buy them food but I never give money though.
Yep… Good way to do it. If they get upset when you give them food, then you know for sure they want the money for something else.
NEVER give money to anyone you dont know, unless you have too much money and dont know what to do with it, scammers will be very happy if you do send them money.
Amen to that!
Things like this are very common on the internet, especially coming from The Philippines. If you want to give money away that of course is up to you but I wouldn’t do it blind like responding to something like has been shown in this article.
It is very true that a lot of students really do have to stop their college and other further education due to lack of funds but there is a much better way. Go there yourself and deal through an educational facility yourself, not directly with someone claiming to be a poor and out of money student.
It is easy and gratifying to set up some kind of scholarship with a facility of your choice and it does not have to cost you a lot of money. Setting up a scholarship does not have to mean a ” full ” scholarship, it can be for example a scholarship award for tuition for one semester. In setting up a scholarship YOU can set the parameters as to what kind of needy student will be awarded the money.
I did this very thing a few years at Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City. My scholarship award is for payment of tuition for one semester for a students graduation year. The student must have grades consistent with graduationg, and taking a course in something that leads to employment in a commercial trade. Air Con & refridgeration, Electronics, Computer and networking, etc.
Each one of the students my scholarship at this educational facility has been awarded to has become successful and two of them are now teaching at MSU-IIT making me feel that the scholarship funding awarded to them will carry on much farther. I have always been able to meet the students, at the university during my annual visit.
The cost ? In this case it is 5000 peso per student, about $125 USD. There are No up front administration costs, every cent of my donation goes to the student.
Additionally, the actual cash does not go into the students hands ( they can’t use it to buy cell phones etc. ) The amount is deducted from their tuition bill by the University.
If you really want to help someone out, this is a good way and you will know for certain where your money is going.
Here is an example, the same applies to many many educational facilities nearly any place in the world. If you do something like this in your own country ( in my case the USA ) it can very well apply for a tax deductable contribution but that does not apply to foreign donations.
http://www.msuiit.edu.ph/giving/index.php
Hi Bob – That’s really good advice for people wanting to help out students here. I’m glad you gave out scholarships to students there in Iligan. I’m sure those students appreciate your kindness.
Thank you for giving our readers here a heads up on what to do if they want to help students here. I’ve known foreigners who got burn by student that their supporting. I really appreciate that.
Always good to see you here Bob. Have a great day!
Yeap, since I was a victim of scam never give to anyone I didn’t know, I have to see them in person and talk to them before I give them help.
Having no idea who it is, even if I was able to interpret it myself, I would have no concern deleting immediately. We moved here already suspecting the worst of family, and have still had a couple of “trusted” family members take advantage of us.
On the plus side, the word is getting out. After my wife sent a distant relative, who simply showed up at our gate, away on the next bus…well let’s just say the word is out: that ATM is not available sir!
Don’t you have a money tree growing outside your house? lol. Enjoy your retirement.
I don’t understand how you can say something like that about such loving people.
Why don’t you send that person some money Mel? Have a good day.
I would David but I’m saving mine to give away when I move there.
You look like a good guy, where are you moving? I plan to move to Dumaguette city, money trees grow next to the avocado’s. .
David Desorcy around Olongapo are.
No Way NEVER”””..Cash only…My Boy sold a Baseball card on E-Bay they sent a Cashiers Check to pay or it he sent them the card…2 weeks later he was making a loan with his bank to pay for the forgery…..Don’t know if you were lucky or not Feyma by not going to Vegas heeee
This is so right,everywhere ,there’s a scammers,just pay attention or if your not sure ,as someone that you trust?.
Mrs Feyma,
If it sounds too good to be true, than it probably is.
We have given money but never to a stranger. I stopped giving to those that are asking for money on the streets. Even if they are older people.
I’d Never, Never give money over the internet. Those are always scams. And one shouldn’t say always but I’ve never heard of a legitimate internet request for money from a stranger.
When we gave once we asked for collateral. The collateral was a rice field. Someone harvests the rice field twice a year. That was over 5 years ago. The money we gave we’ve earned back many times over.
Unfortunately, these scams are extremely common, not just in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world. Typically, you receive a message from someone claiming that they have been robbed, their children are sick, or they are stranded in a foreign country & need help to get home. Other scammers pretend to be US servicemen looking for love. Never, ever respond to these messages – delete them immediately. If you make the mistake of sending money, you will be bombarded with further requests, plus your name & email address will be sold on to other scammers.
Hello Tita Feyma,
My husband and I are are planning to move to Philippines and I stumbled upon the article you won’t like living in the Philippines written by your husband. Though I spent my childhood in the Philippines it is challenging to recall what it’s like living there. So when my husband decided that he wanted to move to Philippines I told him it would be a good idea to first visit before settling in. The article gave me a realistic perspective on what to expect. I am going through the posts on this website since I find it informative and a good refresher of what it’s like living there! Regarding this post, I recently encountered similar situation. I find it easier to help by guiding the person to the right resources. When one asked money for food, I just by a meal and a drink that would help alleviate the temporary hunger. Here in the US there are government or church programs that can further assist someone in need. I refer a resource for food,shelter, etc. I used to volunteer with my husband at church giving away free produce/groceries and used clothes. Maybe you can help Juan find the right resource to achieve what he needs. I am not aware of programs or institution in Philippines that aids for food/shelter/clothing.
I just want to end this comment by thanking you and your husband for this website. I greatly appreciate the honest view and realistic view of the Philippines so we could make an informed decision before moving there.
Nope, I never help in these situations. There is another very common scam which is really sad because it involves the scammer asking money for a loved on in the “hospital”, which after my extended periods of stay in the Philippines I have learned is a very common scam to solicit money out of pity.
I now only help out those who I can verify are legit. I see the poor family on the streets with the children so I will go buy the largest jug of water I can find and some foods for them. I will give food to the orphanages and I if I know the person who is asking, I will verify the situation first hand to know if it is true. And as far as family goes, I will not “give” them money just because, when I do give them money it is only when the money will be used towards something that will provide the family a way to create a better life, not just satisfy an immediate want or situation. For example, we gave money to my Mother in laws family to set up a stand at the wet mart… this allows them to sell their fish and generate income that allows them to better their livelihood.
Outside of that I do not “help”.
The biggest scammers I ever met were my ex-girlfriends family who are a pack of lazy, useless, drunken slobs. We have been apart for nearly two years now (and I miss my son every day) and I am still bitter. I hope one day I will get over it.
Sorry you had such a bad experience, Murray. I can imagine with a child involved it would really be hell!