WHEELCHAIR-BOUND Rhed de Guzman was easy prey as she struggled with three suitcases amid chaotic crowds in Manila's international airport.
The first she knew she was the target of the Great Bullet Scam was when airport staff were feigning alarm after her suitcases passed through a security check as she was making her way to a departure lounge to catch her flight to the US.
Security staff confronted her, holding a .22-calibre bullet, claiming it had been found in one of her suitcases.
Ms de Guzman was horrified, protesting that the bullet was not hers and she didn't even know where bullets could be obtained.
Staff playing the "bad cop" role told her to she was heading to a Manila jail and not the US and disappeared with her travel documents.
But the "good cop" guy wasn't away long.
"Ma'am, that's OK, for 500 pesos ($15), please hand it to me secretly as my supervisor may catch me," he said.
Ms de Guzman said she was terrified but wasn't going to be scammed, and posted the incident on Facebook on September 18.
Even though two airport staff were subsequently sacked, a racket where airport staff plant bullets in the luggage of passengers and extort money from them has flourished since then, prompting a public outcry, and forcing Philippine president Benigno Aquino to order an investigation at the weekend.
Among a growing number of people who refused to pay up was American missionary Lane White, who spent six days in jail before he was released, only after paying a fine.
According to Philippine media, overseas Filipino workers flush with cash and desperate to be reunited with their families are the most targeted, including maids returning from Hong Kong.
The number of victims is unknown as most victims pay up but there have been six recorded cases in recent days.
Scams have been reported for years at Manila airport, which in 2012 and 2013 was rated the world's worst airport by users of a travel website.
In a past scam, airport security staff would sell a police badge to departing passengers.
When the badge was discovered during the final baggage screening, security staff would pounce, accusing the passenger of being in possession of stolen police identification, a very serious crime in the Philippines.
The ruse inevitably prompted an escorted visit to an airport ATM.
Manila airport's plastic bag wrappers are doing a roaring trade.
The first she knew she was the target of the Great Bullet Scam was when airport staff were feigning alarm after her suitcases passed through a security check as she was making her way to a departure lounge to catch her flight to the US.
Security staff confronted her, holding a .22-calibre bullet, claiming it had been found in one of her suitcases.
Ms de Guzman was horrified, protesting that the bullet was not hers and she didn't even know where bullets could be obtained.
Staff playing the "bad cop" role told her to she was heading to a Manila jail and not the US and disappeared with her travel documents.
But the "good cop" guy wasn't away long.
"Ma'am, that's OK, for 500 pesos ($15), please hand it to me secretly as my supervisor may catch me," he said.
Ms de Guzman said she was terrified but wasn't going to be scammed, and posted the incident on Facebook on September 18.
Even though two airport staff were subsequently sacked, a racket where airport staff plant bullets in the luggage of passengers and extort money from them has flourished since then, prompting a public outcry, and forcing Philippine president Benigno Aquino to order an investigation at the weekend.
Among a growing number of people who refused to pay up was American missionary Lane White, who spent six days in jail before he was released, only after paying a fine.
According to Philippine media, overseas Filipino workers flush with cash and desperate to be reunited with their families are the most targeted, including maids returning from Hong Kong.
The number of victims is unknown as most victims pay up but there have been six recorded cases in recent days.
Scams have been reported for years at Manila airport, which in 2012 and 2013 was rated the world's worst airport by users of a travel website.
In a past scam, airport security staff would sell a police badge to departing passengers.
When the badge was discovered during the final baggage screening, security staff would pounce, accusing the passenger of being in possession of stolen police identification, a very serious crime in the Philippines.
The ruse inevitably prompted an escorted visit to an airport ATM.
Manila airport's plastic bag wrappers are doing a roaring trade.
Low life scam artists with security and police all in on the scam,sacked they should be jailed for abuse and corruption of the office they hold many years.
Posted by slickmelb on November 1, 2015 22:22