jstraw20 Posted March 25, 2013 #151 Share Posted March 25, 2013 He approached us when we were there a couple of weeks ago. I told him of his internet fame, and also advised him not to try running a New York scam when a ship from New York was in port. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frito58 Posted March 25, 2013 #152 Share Posted March 25, 2013 There must be an organization of scammers! In Memphis, an older woman with grand-sonin tow, asked for food money, then headed for liquor store! Kroger parking lot in Cincinnati, man asked me for $20 for gas, wife & new baby need ride home, mother-in-law has broken leg, his car out of gas. Told him someone in Kroger would call agency to help him. Became angry, walked away and went to another person. Actually this is becoming a quite popular SCAM people need to be aware of. Its being used all over . It happened to my Brother here in Central Ohio as well . People are using a version of it the yada yada I ran out of gas , I need to get home could you spare X amount and then if you watch them they head across the parking the lot to someone else And away they go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lah66 Posted April 10, 2013 #153 Share Posted April 10, 2013 I am hoping Karen, a fellow CC'er who was on our Easter Brilliance cruise will come on here and tell you her story! She did meet him and graciously waited for him to tell her his whole spiel and then she went on to tell him how popular he is on CC! He was so offended that he wasted all his time telling her the story when all along she knew he was a scam! Too funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janabm81 Posted April 10, 2013 #154 Share Posted April 10, 2013 We've run into him multiple times. You'd think that with as many people telling him that they know the spiel and that he's famous on the internet, that he'd change up his story just a little bit and try to throw us off track!:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lsimon Posted April 11, 2013 #155 Share Posted April 11, 2013 What makes you think there is only one person involved in this scam? I continue to be amazed at the number of people who post of experiences where they confront this person, or persons, or draw out the conversation in any way. While there has been no indication that these scam artists are violent they are none the less criminals who may be desperate for cash and unpredictable. The only course of action I'd recommend if approached would be to say sorry ASAP and walk away towards the direction of other people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvBNatC Posted April 11, 2013 #156 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I'm the Karen lah66 was talking about. We hadn't been in SJ an hour on Good Friday evening, and were walking just down the block from the Hotel Milano on Fortaleeza when this tall, thin white man with short-cropped gray hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and a tiny bandage across the bridge of his nose approached my friend and asked her if she spoke English. He was wearing a clean plaid short-sleeved shirt and light gray or khaki pants. I listened to him for a few minutes before realizing this was THE GUY. First he tried to be helpful, warning us away from certain areas of SJ as being too dangerous, then told how his father had gotten beat up. It took him a really long time to get to the pitch, but he finally asked us for $5 or $6 for a cab. That's when I said, "Did you know you're really famous? People write online about you all the time." He just looked at me for a moment, then got irritated and said, "If you know me, then why did you let me waste my time going through my whole spiel? Are you just trying to be a smart-ass?" Then he turned and vanished into the night. I don't think anybody's gotten his picture because he wouldn't stick around to let it happen. He's like a human Loch Ness Monster and you'd only get his back. I feel very lucky to have been insulted by the most famous guy in San Juan. :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibcnusoon Posted April 11, 2013 #157 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I thought someone posted a picture here last year of him, a photo of him in the distance crossing the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvBNatC Posted April 11, 2013 #158 Share Posted April 11, 2013 That could be so, ibcnusoon. I haven't seen that photo. But it bears out what I said. You'd do best to catch him at a distance because I don't think he's into doing photo ops if he hates "wasting his time" telling his story without a payoff. CC members are bad for business! :) Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lah66 Posted April 14, 2013 #159 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Karen, Thanks for coming and telling your story! Hilarious!! And the way you tell it makes it that much better! Do you have another cruise booked? Our time on the ship went way too quickly! Looking forward to my next cruise on the Gem the end of Oct with just the girls! Lauri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstraw20 Posted April 14, 2013 #160 Share Posted April 14, 2013 a tiny bandage across the bridge of his nose Wow that must be a some wound, he had a bandage on his nose when we ran into him on March 9th. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvBNatC Posted April 14, 2013 #161 Share Posted April 14, 2013 jstraw, RE: the bandaged nose. Maybe he just keeps walking into doors with his glasses on! :eek: I'm thinking he wears it to add a note of authenticity. But really, after being told umpteen times people are on to him, you'd think he'd mix up the story a bit to surprise a few bucks out of us. Maybe next he'll turn to Cover Girl blush and start smearing on some fake welts and bruises. Lauri, no new cruise booked yet, but I'm giving it serious thought. Maybe a westbound t/a in the fall. I love the sea days. This past Brilliance cruise was too hectic for me (only one sea day), even though I did nothing but wander around for a while off the ship. My energetic roomie did shore excursions in every port but St. Thomas (it was rained out). Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby4048 Posted May 3, 2013 #162 Share Posted May 3, 2013 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawne71 Posted January 19, 2014 #163 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Met him tonight outside the Marriott in Condado. We let him finish his speech, then I told him that I've read about him on CC, then he took off down the street. I feel like I've just met someone famous! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted January 19, 2014 #164 Share Posted January 19, 2014 This guy is amazing. He must be making a good living off his game as he has been doing this for years. Thanks for the latest 'sighting'. :) Enjoy San Juan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platypus_72 Posted January 20, 2014 #165 Share Posted January 20, 2014 My fiancee and I were in San Juan in January of 2013. We were on a downtown shopping excursion through Carnival and this man started following us. When he asked if we spoke English, we made the mistake of turning around and saying "yes." He told us a very rehearsed story about how he was staying at the Hilton and that he and his father were robbed and that he needed money for a cab to get to the hospital to see his father. We said no, and he kept repeatedly asking. He tried to grab at my purse, and we took off running through downtown to get as far away from him as possible. So scary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouhunter Posted January 21, 2014 #166 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Met him tonight outside the Marriott in Condado. We let him finish his speech, then I told him that I've read about him on CC, then he took off down the street. I feel like I've just met someone famous! :p Too funny he's still at it. We've spent probably 20 nights in San Juan the past 6-7 years and haven't met him yet, I feel left out:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenna1983 Posted January 29, 2014 #167 Share Posted January 29, 2014 This guy sounds more relentless than the gypsies at the Eiffel Tower. He won't want to meet me and even the gypsies didn't like me (I promise I'm normally super sweet but don't tolerate this type of stuff). Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funsince1983 Posted February 22, 2014 #168 Share Posted February 22, 2014 (edited) We just had the pleasure about a month ago. We were sitting on a bench by Carli's Fine Jazz & Bistro, in the Banco Popular building when he walked up to us. As he was going on & on I got nervous for a minute thinking our walking tour was heading where he claimed he was coming from, then it clicked! I looked at my husband & said "Honey! I read about this guy on the internet!" of course he then took off across the street to prowl on some more innocent people. Husband was sooo pissed that I stirred the pot.. not that that's anything new. ;) His story that day was also that he was in on a cruise ship & needed the taxi money to get back to the pier, hubby was like "uhhh.. we just walked here, why can't you walk THERE?" Nevermind the fact that all the other ships had already left the port, we were the only ones there & hadn't been there long enough for him to get to the fort, get mugged, go to the hospital, blah blah. He needs some brushing up. Edited February 22, 2014 by Funsince1983 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibcnusoon Posted February 22, 2014 #169 Share Posted February 22, 2014 We just had the pleasure about a month ago. We were sitting on a bench by Carli's Fine Jazz & Bistro, in the Banco Popular building when he walked up to us. As he was going on & on I got nervous for a minute thinking our walking tour was heading where he claimed he was coming from, then it clicked! I looked at my husband & said "Honey! I read about this guy on the internet!" of course he then took off across the street to prowl on some more innocent people. Husband was sooo pissed that I stirred the pot.. not that that's anything new. ;) His story that day was also that he was in on a cruise ship & needed the taxi money to get back to the pier, hubby was like "uhhh.. we just walked here, why can't you walk THERE?" Nevermind the fact that all the other ships had already left the port, we were the only ones there & hadn't been there long enough for him to get to the fort, get mugged, go to the hospital, blah blah. He needs some brushing up. hahahha... maybe it was a wanna be. It's amazing this guy hasn't been arrested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funsince1983 Posted February 22, 2014 #170 Share Posted February 22, 2014 hahahha... maybe it was a wanna be. It's amazing this guy hasn't been arrested. Apparently he has been. With over $3,000 on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lard Greystoke Posted February 23, 2014 #171 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Apparently he has been. With over $3,000 on him. Maybe people should start asking HIM for money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireStation46 Posted February 24, 2014 #172 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I had a guy ask me if I wanted some weed when we hit Nassau. I ignored him and moved on. There is a scam there where one guy sells you the weed and his relative is a cop and busts you shortly thereafter. Growing up in the Bronx we walk and talk differently and these yo-yos look for another target real fast. Enjoy you vacation where ever you go but always treat strangers approaching you as a sing to be prepared. If the just want a bit of info, fine. If they try and sell you or ask you for money, move on. Guys, keep your wallet in your front pocket with your hand over it. Be safe all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAmericanAmy Posted March 1, 2014 #173 Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) Things I am SURE about: I'll never see the Loch Ness Monster. I'll never see Bigfoot running thru the forest. I'll never find a pot of gold, or a leprechaun for that matter. HOWEVER: I will be spending a week in San Juan March27- Apr 3 (2014). We'll DEFINITELY look like tourists and will be SURE to watch for this guy. We'll try to snap a picture for y'all if we do cross paths with him! Off to make a note in my "travel folder" to remind us to be vigilant watching for him! :) Wish us luck.... Amy Edited March 1, 2014 by AllAmericanAmy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lard Greystoke Posted March 1, 2014 #174 Share Posted March 1, 2014 We'll DEFINITELY look like tourists and will be SURE to watch for this guy. If you see him, tell him to watch out for muggers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireStation46 Posted March 1, 2014 #175 Share Posted March 1, 2014 If you see him, tell him to watch out for muggers. Or big guys from the Bronx :eek::D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now