Scams in used heavy equipment business abroad and Philippines

Every minute a sucker is born (PT Barnaum). Let us not be one

This post read into Mike Phua about scams in heavy equipment business especially importation from China, Hong Kong and  even Subic (and we fell for it)   It was said that traders dont earn money if they are honest, only dishonest ones  make money

Typically the scams involve:

1. Switching the unit you reserved for another one,

2.  Copying an original with junk parts,

3.  Getting a reservation rush then:

     1   Getting you buy accessories

     2.   Get additional cash out

     3    Get other conditions

That eventually you back out.

We experienced this:

1.   We were led into an address and wonders of wonders, The same equipment was being brokered by two parties.  One wanted us to see two units at location somewhere in Pampanga, the other one led us to Tipo at SBMA

2.  The unit to be shown to us had a serious mechanical problem a blow by and was being overhauled when arriived

3.  We were led to make a P50K reservation for one of the nice looking painted PC 30 unit.  (Our total outlay for this was P930 unit +  P60K breaker, + P25k 

4.  After we made the P50K we were talking about a P70K breaker (it is priced at P50K elsewhere) and said that was not included in the P50K reservation.  Another reservation has to be made.

5.  After two weeks, when we arranging for the financing, the owner of Y... J...n at Tupi was asking another amount for dp this time.  We had 30 days to complete the financing

6.  The unit was delivered one week after we made the full payment.  Only AR was issued.

7   Up to now there is no delivery of equipment

The said outfit is populated by foreigners from   P.....i  beware of these shenigans

Fortunately for us we got another supplier for 20% at M...ba.for PC 40.     That is with breaker.  We would fit a rubber shoes for P40K we completed the DP last Thursday.  Its almost 3 weeks and what did they do to the unit:  they changed oil, oil and air filter.   And even repainted the tracks.  We hope 

to get delivery in 1st week of January.  

Fortunately for us we got another 

This post nearly got scammed by former business colleague

 Every minute a sucker is born

I could have been that sucker.

Before there was this former high ranking state university regent Prez of a db, and who ran a housing company.  We did the housing construction for him, he did the bank matters and marketing.   He had a plush office in Makati CBD and was married to a very very rich family.

The last time I heard he was in the land of milk and honey and lately he sought my friendship in a social media and inquired if this post has heard about at World Bank program to give aid to the poor.  This post tried to get access to the website but it was only processing loans.  Then he referred me to a person, a Chinese whom he said processed the grants. He asked me to fill up a form which I did and answered in an hour (without using the agency's form) that I have been approved for $100,000.  However this is the catch I had to pay the delivery charge of 1% of the grant.  I said just deduct from the grant.  I did not hear from them again.

Sounds like a variation of Nigerian scam.  How could a former colleague try to lure me into a scam?  Life is so hard at that country.