I am very embarassed to have to admit to this but my partner and I fell for the jewellery scam in Goa earlier this week.
We met a group of "nice friendly locals" who we spent quite a bit of time with in bars and at their flat, a few weeks in total as "friends". We initially refused to get involved with their plan to export some jewellery and gem stones in our name and thus make us and them a lot of money (by tax evasion). We said no no no we don't have the money but eventually they convinced us that we wouldn't need to pay anything, not even the insurance fees they were initially asking for the postage.
We watched them wrap the so-called jewels and take them to the post office to send to Paris. Next they called us saying about problems, as customs wanted to see proof that we had actually paid for the gems. We were lead to believe that now the package had been posted in our name we would be in a lot of trouble if we couldn't prove to customs that we had paid for it ourselves. This is how they got our money. We stupidly took some money out of the bank. Despite promises otherwise they used our own flight tickets to get back to England and await our return flights (and money) saying that if they bought our flights "customs would be suspicious". Customs was their answer to most questions we asked. Back in England they ignored all of our calls and texts. Thakfully we have cancelled the credit card transation but our bank accounts are still very empty and we lost 2 months of our holiday by agreeing to fly back early.
These guys are pretty convincing and obviously know their scam inside out. [B]The main guys go by the names of Vicky (our initial "friend" who has a deformed right hand), Alex, Ali and Mark. If you come acoss any of these guys be warned that they are playing this scam. Their flat is by Mr Toffs Toff Pub in Calangute/Baga in Goa, the flat is painted orange with murals of a mermaid, Buddha and dragon on the wall, they have uv lights and lazers set up and DJing equipment to entice party-goers there. Their "office" (the jewellery shop they took us to) was opposite the orange and white painted hotel called the Seagull in Calangute.[/B] They had a folder with other peoples passport photocopies and postage reciepts which suggests they've done this scam many times before.
Pretty shameful that we fell for this one when there are so many warnings about it online. Please avoid these people, they really really have no morals. They know we have a child, how long it had taken us to save for our trip, the fact we get paid minimum wage (they appeared to be genuinely shocked by what a small wage that is!) and how little money we had.
hi - my sympathy, l was caught by the same people.
quote:
Originally posted by Sarah and Shelley: I am very embarassed to have to admit to this but my partner and I fell for the jewellery scam in Goa earlier this week.
We met a group of "nice friendly locals" who we spent quite a bit of time with in bars and at their flat, a few weeks in total as "friends". We initially refused to get involved with their plan to export some jewellery and gem stones in our name and thus make us and them a lot of money (by tax evasion). We said no no no we don't have the money but eventually they convinced us that we wouldn't need to pay anything, not even the insurance fees they were initially asking for the postage.
We watched them wrap the so-called jewels and take them to the post office to send to Paris. Next they called us saying about problems, as customs wanted to see proof that we had actually paid for the gems. We were lead to believe that now the package had been posted in our name we would be in a lot of trouble if we couldn't prove to customs that we had paid for it ourselves. This is how they got our money. We stupidly took some money out of the bank. Despite promises otherwise they used our own flight tickets to get back to England and await our return flights (and money) saying that if they bought our flights "customs would be suspicious". Customs was their answer to most questions we asked. Back in England they ignored all of our calls and texts. Thakfully we have cancelled the credit card transation but our bank accounts are still very empty and we lost 2 months of our holiday by agreeing to fly back early.
These guys are pretty convincing and obviously know their scam inside out. [B]The main guys go by the names of Vicky (our initial "friend" who has a deformed right hand), Alex, Ali and Mark. If you come acoss any of these guys be warned that they are playing this scam. Their flat is by Mr Toffs Toff Pub in Calangute/Baga in Goa, the flat is painted orange with murals of a mermaid, Buddha and dragon on the wall, they have uv lights and lazers set up and DJing equipment to entice party-goers there. Their "office" (the jewellery shop they took us to) was opposite the orange and white painted hotel called the Seagull in Calangute.[/B] They had a folder with other peoples passport photocopies and postage reciepts which suggests they've done this scam many times before.
Pretty shameful that we fell for this one when there are so many warnings about it online. Please avoid these people, they really really have no morals. They know we have a child, how long it had taken us to save for our trip, the fact we get paid minimum wage (they appeared to be genuinely shocked by what a small wage that is!) and how little money we had.
