San Juan, PR Scam information

[m steve]

I would answer, "Sprechen sie Deutch" or Je parle Francais solemente.

[pythia]

Got hit up in front of Casa Don Q in November. I was familiar with his schtick so I put on my suspicious face (DH took his cues from it:rolleyes:). When he realized we weren't going to bite he stopped mid-sentence and took off down the street. When he stopped another couple in front of Senior Frogs and started in, I hollered "It's a scam! Don't do it!" just loud enough for them to hear. They shut him down, too.

 

Then I had to 'splain what had just happened to my confused, non-Cruise Critic-ing husband :D

[Ingrid K]

We ran into him earlier this month as well and I did the same thing. As soon as I said "I read about you on Cruise Critics," he said "thank you and have a good day" and took off

[kingoftheicedragons]

I was actually looking forward to seeing this guy when we were there in January, but unfortunately we didn't.

[Cafabi]

I was actually looking forward to seeing this guy when we were there in January, but unfortunately we didn't.

 

What would you have said? If you want to share a great comeback, I may have an opportunity to use it in 3 weeks.

[emailingann]

Well at least he is polite when you say you are onto him! I like a polite thief!:D

 

Ann

[sail7seas]

We never felt at all threatened by him...... he is mild mannered. :D

 

[scooby4048]

My co-worker just returned from San Juan vacationing in the Condado area and ran into this guy near the hospital, and he is still telling the same story, my co-says that he suggested to the gentelmen that he stay away from that area as he ran into this guy on his last vacation to San Juan as well......:eek:

 

He says the guy was not bloddy and beat up but he did look rough...

 

He also warned me about a guy that is on the trolley, and he's licking his phone and talking to himself....:confused:

[Ron_L]

He also warned me about a guy that is on the trolley, and he's licking his phone and talking to himself

 

Maybe he spilled something on it? :rolleyes:

 

I fly quite a bit on business and about every third trip I am approached by a man when I am waiting outside fo the bag claim area waiting for my ride. He tells a story about losing all of his money and not having enough for a bus ride to Milwaukee or Detroit or whatever. I usually tell him "The same thing happened to me! I'm lucky to have a ride home!" :)

 

It's not just Puerto Rico.

[deborahjo]

Saw this guy in 2007 so he has been doing it a LONG time. We will be back in San Juan in October so will be interesting if he is still there.

[DrSeuss]

He is still there! Ha, very funny I had read this thread and when he approached and started on the story I was a teenny bit excited that I had found him. He is very calm and very belivable and not at all threatening

[dotcomgirl]

I'd love to act shocked and appear helpful... "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! Fortunately for you, the police are on their way now, as we just recently called them regarding another issue. Help will be here for you soon!"

 

I'm glad to have read about this scam though. We will be visiting San Juan in a few months.

[KeystoneKop]

Yes, this gentleman is still alive, well and busy at "work". My wife and I are in San Juan right now (staying at El Convento Hotel in OSJ for 4 more days), and we ran into this man this morning while walking La Paseo de la Princesa. We heard a man shout out to us, "Excuse me, do you speak English?" and he jogged up to us. I assured him we spoke English, he exclaimed, "Oh, thank God!", and went right into his spiel. He warned us against going to a "really bad neighborhood up near the forts across a bridge" and told us about how he and his father were jumped and robbed by three men. He told us that the concierge at a hotel nearby us was much more help than the police, who didn't help him at all. He then said that he was telling us his sob story because his father is in the hospital, he lost all of his possessions and needed $6.00 for his taxi fare. I had heard about this man by reading the CC boards here, so I was actually quite amused to actually meet him. I told him that I am an American police officer (which I am), showed him my badge and offered to escort him to the police to see that he got justice. I even pulled out my cell phone and offered to call a police officer to come meet us there on the street. He said, "I already spoke to the police and they were no help!". I finally revealed to him that I had already heard about his scam and that he was quite the internet sensation. I told him that it was very sad indeed that he chose to prey on people visiting this fine city rather than just getting a "real" job. He told me he wasn't intimidated by my badge and that it was obvious I didn't care to help him anyway. I wished him good luck, and told him I'd probably see him around OSJ later in the week telling the same sad story. He then walked quickly around the corner.

 

So, yes, this guy is still here. Thanks to CC board members warning others about him, I was able to see him coming a mile away. I still was a little "star struck" though.

[Bandmo]

Same guy, same exact story, same amount of money requested by us today just a block away from the port. I had read about this scammer months ago and warned my husband. We listened to his story and said we don't carry cash. He looked disgusted and walked away. Funny that we actually were approached by him....it's like meeting a famous person!

[sail7seas]

Yes, this gentleman is still alive, well and busy at "work". My wife and I are in San Juan right now (staying at El Convento Hotel in OSJ for 4 more days), and we ran into this man this morning while walking La Paseo de la Princesa. We heard a man shout out to us, "Excuse me, do you speak English?" and he jogged up to us. I assured him we spoke English, he exclaimed, "Oh, thank God!", and went right into his spiel. He warned us against going to a "really bad neighborhood up near the forts across a bridge" and told us about how he and his father were jumped and robbed by three men. He told us that the concierge at a hotel nearby us was much more help than the police, who didn't help him at all. He then said that he was telling us his sob story because his father is in the hospital, he lost all of his possessions and needed $6.00 for his taxi fare. I had heard about this man by reading the CC boards here, so I was actually quite amused to actually meet him. I told him that I am an American police officer (which I am), showed him my badge and offered to escort him to the police to see that he got justice. I even pulled out my cell phone and offered to call a police officer to come meet us there on the street. He said, "I already spoke to the police and they were no help!". I finally revealed to him that I had already heard about his scam and that he was quite the internet sensation. I told him that it was very sad indeed that he chose to prey on people visiting this fine city rather than just getting a "real" job. He told me he wasn't intimidated by my badge and that it was obvious I didn't care to help him anyway. I wished him good luck, and told him I'd probably see him around OSJ later in the week telling the same sad story. He then walked quickly around the corner.

 

So, yes, this guy is still here. Thanks to CC board members warning others about him, I was able to see him coming a mile away. I still was a little "star struck" though.

 

 

Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Great story.

 

We had the dubious pleasure of meeting him end of November, 2011. He told us the same sad story. When he was well into his tale, I told him I had read about him on the internet and knew his game. My DH and the the other person we were with looked at me in shock that I knew about this jerk. He calmly and without any big deal turned and walked away.

 

[chipandsteph]

I will have to keep this in mind in a few weeks when we are there! Didn't see him when we were there in 2011. Good thing, too. I wasn't on CC back then and wouldn't have known about the scam!

[shawne71]

I can't wait to meet him! This should be fun! LOL :p

[SeagoingMom]

What I think is funny is how posters are reacting to this guy's career! What makes you think he doesn't have a "real" job -- he does! He's an actor -- and apparently a reasonably successful one! :D

[Nole0202]

bump......

[isabelle315]

We ran into this guy while we were in OSJ this past weekend!! He was right outside Hotel El Convento - flagged us down and gave us the "thank goodness you speak English" line. Just from that I was thinking this guy was full of crap - pretty much everyone speaks english in OSJ, you've got to be kidding me that you haven't been able to find anyone who speaks english.

 

He told his story about wandering into La Perla and his dad in the hospital. We said "nope, sorry!" I was so surprised to see this thread after that happened, I never would have thought he'd been doing it for so many years!!

[chesterton7]

We just returned from our cruise on December 22nd out of Old San Juan. We saw the old man! he stopped us and started his story. We told him he was famous and we would assist him by contacting the police. He stated no police, we then told him how he was on cruise critic board and was now famous, He then hurried off, lol.....

[kbset]

We just returned from our cruise on December 22nd out of Old San Juan. We saw the old man! he stopped us and started his story. We told him he was famous and we would assist him by contacting the police. He stated no police, we then told him how he was on cruise critic board and was now famous, He then hurried off, lol.....

 

 

LOL :D Hopefully we don't run into him....but if we do, I'll use the same line :D

[Johnny Heedless]

When I was in college, I was approached in a supermarket parking lot by a guy dressed in a mechanics uniform holding a gas tank. He explained that he was late for work but had run out of gas. He explained that if he was late for work one more time, his boss would fire him. He then asked for $5 so he could buy some gas and make to work on time. Sadly, I feel for it and gave it to him.

 

A year later, the same guy approached me with the same uniform, the same gas tank, and gave me the exact same story. I explained that he had scammed me a year earlier and he immediately ran off.

 

Now, fast forward 25 years later. I was back at my alma mater to see a football game when I spotted him. He looked a lot older, but he was still in a mechanic's uniform and was still carrying a gas can. I watched him approach someone and go through his spiel again.

 

In other words, the guy I fell victim to had been doing the same acting job for at least 25 years. Sad.

[cruisedirect2]

We ran into the famous San Juan Scam Artist last week. I had read about him a couple of years ago on Cruise Critic. We were vacationing in Old San Juan for a few days when we ran into the guy at the Supermax Supermarket. He asked if we spoke English and then told us he had something to tell us about being really careful in the area. He is really believeable, with the story about him and his father being roughed up. He even has scabs scabs on his face like he was roughed up... it was funny. I told him I read about him on Cruise Critic and he went the other way pretty fast. We ran into him on the street a couple of days later and he tried the same story. He really needs to remember who he talks too.... :rolleyes:

[cruisedirect2]

We were able to get pictures of the guy last week in San Juan when we ran into him the second time on the street. Pictures are on their way.

Edited January 19, 2014 by cruisedirect2