Philippines Scams & Warnings

Some years ago the tourist areas in Manila were targeted by ‘Ativan Gangs’, so named because of the drug they used to knock out unsuspecting victims. They would befriend a foreigner, usually spotted at an ATM or leaving his hotel and use a ruse such as being the hotel security officer on his day off or the customs officer at the airport that processed him through.

They usually have a female with them and she is very friendly and attentive, perhaps with a sister or cousin. The males are always relatives to make the girls seem available, even if only subliminally. One friend of mine, a very intelligent and well travelled middle aged man was a victim. He is neither gullible nor stupid yet he fell for their scam. He got into a car with them on the premise of seeing the sights, guided by locals etc big mistake number one. He was offered some orange juice from a can that was already open, big mistake number two.

He has no recollection of anything that happened next except waking up in an alleyway, stark naked and totally cleaned out. Some passing Filipinos helped him find something to cover himself and called an ambulance as well as the police. Basically he is lucky he woke up at all. Some victims are murdered and their bodies dumped.

If you want to make friends with Filipino males, you should pick who you befriend, not the other way around. There are reports of a gang back in Manila using a similar SOP to the Ativan gangs of the 1990s and early 2000’s.

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