Warnings & Updates

INTERNET SCAMS and other WARNINGS, TIPS & UPDATES!

Update for 2009

THE SCAM: DISHONEST TAXI DRIVERS

If this is your first trip to the Philippines, Probably the first person you will meet, and be taken advantage of, will be the TAXI DRIVER. Taxis taken from the airport are a premium, but at least there is a set flat rate for the area you are going to. You pay the “dispatcher” who will give you a ticket which a copy will also be given to the taxi driver. (They will pay him later.) A couple of scams ran by the airport taxi will be. No matter how much tip you give him, he will ALWAYS say its not enough! He will tell you there is a fee for each piece of baggage, or carrying the baggage, loading or unloading, etc.. The easiest way to handle this is to just write down the name on the license which is posted, and also the number of the taxi (on the door) and the license plate, and tell him you want to stop a police officer to handle the situation. If you have a camera handy, take a photo! If possible get both the driver and the license plate or the cab id on the side of the cab.

Probably the most prevalent scam the tourist will run into when taking a taxi cab in Manila, Cebu, Davao or any other major city, is the drivers claim that his “meter is broken”, or not working for some other reason. He wants to charge you much more for the trip than you would have paid by using the meter. (Besides, if the meter did not work, the cab could not legally be operating!) The easiest way to handle this is to tell him to just use the meter and you will still give him a good tip. If he complies, just tip him a hundred pisos once you arrive at your desired location.

If, for some reason you are really steamed, you can tell the taxi driver to let you out and that you will call the police and turn in his cab number.

Never let a taxi or tricycle driver see a wad of cash! Keep the bulk of your money in a separate location than the pocket you will most often pay from throughout your trip. Also insist on using the aircon (air conditioning) in the cab because the meter rate is based on including air conditioning, unless you are in a non-air conditioned cab.

THE SCAMS: MONEY CHANGERS

It goes without saying that the safest place to change your money is at a bank, or at a money changer who is linked to a major ank.

Upon landing in the Philippines, it is a good idea to change a couple hundred dollars at one of the money changers booths right at the airport. Most reputable hotels change money, and some at a better rate than the banks.. Also, as a ge eral rule, the dollar to piso exchange rate is always better in Manila than in the provinces, and the dollar is usually lower in the probinces and other islands.

In the event you have not yet read of scams ran by Money Changers in the city, such as in Malate, Manila, here is one example.

A “hocker” approaches you and asks if you want to exchange money at a higher rate than the banks give. Greed sets in and you say sure, why not. He then leads you to a small storefront with bars on the windows, which is the norm for money changers.

The money is counted out on the counter, maybe even twice, right in front of your own eyes.

A third individual enters the money changing office, which is intended to distract your eyes from the stack(s), even if only for a second or two. At that time, the cashier either “palms” or “flips” a stack or number of bills to the floor.

You don’t even realize that you have been “taken” until you are back at the hotel or down the road, when it is to late to blame the money changer.

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