Thai police arrest Filipino 'typhoon relief money' scammers

[webfact]

Filipino Typhoon Relief 'Scammers' Arrested
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- Udon Thani police have arrested two Filipino missionaries accused of posing as fund raisers for the relief effort of Typhoon Haiyan and pocketing the donation money for themselves.

The police said they had been informed by a charity group called JC Society Foundation that two citizens of the Philippines have been claiming to work for the charity and raising donation under the name of the foundation in many provinces, such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.

According to complaint filed to the police, the two suspects would perform music in tourist attractions or crowded places, such as shopping malls, and displaying fake documents claiming to represent JC Society Foundation. The suspects would also reportedly pretend to register the names of those who donated their money.

Detective police officers later located the two suspects as they were playing guitar and soliciting for donation opposite Napapai Hotel in Udon Thani province. The police apprehended the suspects and sent their names as printed on passports to the JC Society Foundation for verification.

The suspects were identified as Ms.Minerva Macapili Bedana and Ms.Juana Espelita Hoyos

Upon hearing confirmation that the suspects do not exist in the charity database, the police promptly arrested the two and escorted them to police station, where the suspects reportedly confessed that they were missionaries working in a church in Manila and later devised a plan to pose as fund raisers of JC Society Foundation in Thailand.

According to the police, the suspects told them they simply printed out official-looking documents from the foundation′s website and frame them in plastic cover to fool unsuspecting donors.

Ms. Bedana and Ms. Hoyos also reportedly told the police they would return to the Philippines every two months before coming back to Thailand again for further scamming, as their tourist visas would expire after two months.

The suspects also reportedly said the latest trip they made to Thailand was after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, causing devastating damages to the nation, and they claimed to their donors that the donation money would be sent to assist the victims in affected areas.

A senior police estimated that the two Filipinos had gathered "hundreds of thousands" baht throughout their alleged frauds.

Ms. Bedana and Ms. Hoyos were charged with soliciting for donations without permission. The police expect representatives from JC Society Foundation to file charges on using counterfeit documents soon.

The police also urged citizens allegedly scammed by the two suspects to file charges against the pair.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5URXdNemM1TkE9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-11-22

[gl555]

Their own people are dead and suffering and they use that to scam people. There's a special place in Hell for scum like these.

[15Peter20]

Goddam! I gave 500Bt to someone looking looking very much like the girl on the left about a week ago in Pattaya. the leaflets on the table look exactly like the one she showed me. There was a list of people who had also given 1,000Bt, 1,500Bt and more, which she told me to sign. This will make me think twice about giving to any charity that approaches me in future. Other charities will suffer because of this.

Edited November 22, 2013 by 15Peter20

[Pomthai]

Scamming is a restricted occupation and foreigners aren't allowed.

Good they were caught. Since they are foreign I expect they'll have the book thrown at them too.

[thaicbr]

I wonder if they actually check the charity status of JC society foundation. Because other than scam alerts there is NOTHING on the net.

There is a JC foundation in the US.

[Patje]

Greed rises to the occasion once again, you have to admire mankind !!!

[mrtoad]

Good that they have been caught, disgusting individuals as are all scammers.

They should have know though that this is a restricted occupation for Thais.

[Commander Tamson]

Wouldn't it be nice to think that this was an isolated case. The truth is that they were probably reported by other scammers whose turf they were operating on.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[hanno]

First the card game scam, now this. They bastards sure are quick to make a penny out of the blight and suffering of others.

[JoeThePoster]

Maybe one day Thai police will find some time to arrest the tsunami relief money scammers.

[WitawatWatawit]

I wonder if they actually check the charity status of JC society foundation. Because other than scam alerts there is NOTHING on the net.

There is a JC foundation in the US.

Ditto. Did a quick check and nothing, only a comment on another board from about 6 months ago warningu about the JC Society Foundation scam. So if this outfit does not exist, then how did the police know to contact them? WHO did they contact? All very fishy.

[SlideRiceFC]

So, will the money be turned over to the real charity people thought they were donating to? Or is it evidence?

[wade72]

<deleted>... what scumbags..... as said above though.... who did they check with?

[pisico]

Goddam! I gave 500Bt to someone looking looking very much like the girl on the left about a week ago in Pattaya. the leaflets on the table look exactly like the one she showed me. There was a list of people who had also given 1,000Bt, 1,500Bt and more, which she told me to sign. This will make me think twice about giving to any charity that approaches me in future. Other charities will suffer because of this.

Unfortunately, sometimes the old adage is true: No good deed goes unpunished.

I am usually leery of individual, on the spot charity.

Once on an overpass, in Makhasan, I saw a human being that looked like a pancake. Flattened torso on the ground and legs strewn around like threads. I felt sorry for the poor wretch. Suddenly I stopped to think and asked myself: how on earth he got up the stairs to this spot here on the overpass?

After I inquired with a girl I knew who had a degree in Social Services from Thammasat, she told me that it is an ongoing industry. In the morning a van picks up the wretched people, dirty looking mothers and rented babies and distribute them around the city. Later in the beginning of the evening, they are picked up and delivered to their respective locations. The operators get a cut, pay the BIB their share and the ostensible paupers keep the rest of the loot. The individual take hovers between 1,000 to 2,000 depending on location and gruesomeness of the beggar.

[Nemesis7]

There own people dying out of hunger and care and here they are having fun at the cost of the sufferes. Amazing ......

Some of them knows all the art of scamming in every possible way at Philippines....

[lostmebike]

Normally I would be quick to throw some hate their way but this sort of thing happens all the time. Sad I know.

That said, they come from a deeply religious country and I'm sure their compatriots will let them live with this for the rest of their lives!

SOM NOM NA

[jacko45k]

Goddam! I gave 500Bt to someone looking looking very much like the girl on the left about a week ago in Pattaya. the leaflets on the table look exactly like the one she showed me. There was a list of people who had also given 1,000Bt, 1,500Bt and more, which she told me to sign. This will make me think twice about giving to any charity that approaches me in future. Other charities will suffer because of this.

Unfortunately, sometimes the old adage is true: No good deed goes unpunished.

I am usually leery of individual, on the spot charity.

Once on an overpass, in Makhasan, I saw a human being that looked like a pancake. Flattened torso on the ground and legs strewn around like threads. I felt sorry for the poor wretch. Suddenly I stopped to think and asked myself: how on earth he got up the stairs to this spot here on the overpass?

After I inquired with a girl I knew who had a degree in Social Services from Thammasat, she told me that it is an ongoing industry. In the morning a van picks up the wretched people, dirty looking mothers and rented babies and distribute them around the city. Later in the beginning of the evening, they are picked up and delivered to their respective locations. The operators get a cut, pay the BIB their share and the ostensible paupers keep the rest of the loot. The individual take hovers between 1,000 to 2,000 depending on location and gruesomeness of the beggar.

And I can hardly blame you.

But it goes further,some large charitable organisations don't pass a decent percentage on to the needy, and pay their management quite well.

It is quite a quandary, give nothing, and the needy get nothing.

Give 100 baht, maybe they get a few, but I resent the wastage.

[jpduggan]

The big question here is 'who are the real scammers'. Is it these two Filipino ladies or the big mafia organization who are registered and look so squeeky clean. Upon closer scrutiny when you check out the big charity organizations it often turns out that only a small percentage of donation money reaches the needy. Most of the donation money actually goes towards administration fees and paying big salaries of charity executives leaving the pot very small indeed. I have seen this with certain charities back in Ireland. I wouldn't be too fast to accuse these two ladies as there is a possibility that more of the money they collected has reached those in need back home.

[b2bme]

This has been going on for at least 4 years in Bangkok now that I can remember. I get hit up for some money by Filipinos about every two months around Sukhumvit area. I was outside RCA Petchburi one night last year and could even have been the same two as they were playing guitar. Perhaps the police should also focus on the locals scamming money from tourists along Sukhumvit in Bangkok. I can easily see how good hearted people are fleeced of their money.

[Gsxrnz]

Goddam! I gave 500Bt to someone looking looking very much like the girl on the left about a week ago in Pattaya. the leaflets on the table look exactly like the one she showed me. There was a list of people who had also given 1,000Bt, 1,500Bt and more, which she told me to sign. This will make me think twice about giving to any charity that approaches me in future. Other charities will suffer because of this.

These Filipino scammers are always collecting for something in Pattaya, often it's for the orphans. The lists they show you are partly fake to encourage you to give. If somebody offers 100B, they show you the list of 1,000+B donations to make you feel bad. No doubt there are genuine names there from people who have actually fallen for the game.

Don't give any money to anybody unless they're a "genuine" beggar, and you're comfortable giving - and then only 20B at the most. And there aren't too many genuine beggars around, believe me!!

[worgeordie]

Whats with the guitar ?,a dangerous weapon ,people in the

World today have no shame,will do anything to get their hands

on the money,hope they do hard time and are made to suffer

just like their compatriots in the Philippines are doing right now.

regards Worgeordie

[scorecard]

Had my fill of these organizations several years back when one of them (world famous charity supposedly taking care of / helping children to advance) approached my employers in Bkk for some management consulting advice.

We attended several meeting, the folks we had contact with were sweeter than sweet and sounded professional and insisted that we have prayer meetings about every two hours.

Didn't take long to discover that:

- The lady who made first contact with our company seriously abused our receptionist for do good reason.

- Out of earshot of our discussions the mainplayers were abusing their own staff, and using quite vial language.

- Their boss had decided she would fly to Bkk from California business class and stay at a 5 star hotel for the photo op at the contract signing.

We withdrew.

[Mudcrab]

The big question here is 'who are the real scammers'. Is it these two Filipino ladies or the big mafia organization who are registered and look so squeeky clean. Upon closer scrutiny when you check out the big charity organizations it often turns out that only a small percentage of donation money reaches the needy. Most of the donation money actually goes towards administration fees and paying big salaries of charity executives leaving the pot very small indeed. I have seen this with certain charities back in Ireland. I wouldn't be too fast to accuse these two ladies as there is a possibility that more of the money they collected has reached those in need back home.

i recall back in the 70's or 80's to be registered as a not for profit (i.e. tax free) charitable organisation in Queensland, Oz, there had to be a guarantee that 5% of all incomings HAD to be spent on the named charity. That's while the execs of said organisations were driving Mercedes and BMW's. I now only give to the Salvation Army and have done so for many years. At least the bulk of the donation will get to where it is supposed to (I hope).

[Tycoon]

I wonder if they actually check the charity status of JC society foundation. Because other than scam alerts there is NOTHING on the net.

There is a JC foundation in the US.

Ditto. Did a quick check and nothing, only a comment on another board from about 6 months ago warningu about the JC Society Foundation scam. So if this outfit does not exist, then how did the police know to contact them? WHO did they contact? All very fishy.

Here we go again, The Thai visa FBI take a newspaper report as a actual police report.

One day the Thai visa FBI squad will realise you can't believe all you read in the paper.

[Mudcrab]

The big question here is 'who are the real scammers'. Is it these two Filipino ladies or the big mafia organization who are registered and look so squeeky clean. Upon closer scrutiny when you check out the big charity organizations it often turns out that only a small percentage of donation money reaches the needy. Most of the donation money actually goes towards administration fees and paying big salaries of charity executives leaving the pot very small indeed. I have seen this with certain charities back in Ireland. I wouldn't be too fast to accuse these two ladies as there is a possibility that more of the money they collected has reached those in need back home.

i recall back in the 70's or 80's to be registered as a not for profit (i.e. tax free) charitable organisation in Queensland, Oz, there had to be a guarantee that 5% of all incomings HAD to be spent on the named charity. That's while the execs of said organisations were driving Mercedes and BMW's. I now only give to the Salvation Army and have done so for many years. At least the bulk of the donation will get to where it is supposed to (I hope).

I should add though that we often go to the markets at a place called Chom Chong on the Cambo border. The missus gives money to the marauding monks (who said they would bless me if I gave a donation.....fat chance) while I give money to the beggars - the ones blinded or missing legs/arms from the ongoing aftermath of the war in the 60's and 70's. (won't call it the VietNam war as these guys call it the American war - each to his own).

[David Barker]

Sometimes people are genuine one in particular in Hua Hin in the night market that is blind although according to one of the local restaurant owners I have known for many years she makes a good living even on a poor night she can take 1000Thb personally good for her I would rather have my eyesight.

As others have said before me the scammers should really get some serious time.

[DPGumbypgh]

The same philipino scammers were collecting last year for the floods in bangkok, later came back with the orphanage scam. I now ask them for their thai ID and if they don't have one ask them why they not do charity work in their own country. Kick them out of the bar every time I see them.

[anon467848]

Whatever happened to the Thai Police Colonel who misappropriated tsunami funds in Phuket about 4 or 5 years ago? I seem to remember all the western Ambassadors from about 7 or 8 countries demanding answers as to where all the money went.

No doubt he just got moved to an inactive post after making some payments to persons higher up the food chain.TIT..

[thailandbeachisland]

These people are all like this...

[sabaii69]

They'll be singing a different song in the monkey house.