Scammers have existed for a long time, using their guiles and sweet tongues to trick innocent travelers to part with their hard-earned money. These scammers we have discovered using a variety of strategies to dupe travelers who are unfamiliar with the territory, the culture, the local currency, and the locals. One such scam that is being widely reported is the scam of the flirtatious local women.
The flirtatious local scam is a scam that is usually orchestrated on men in areas known for being tourist hot spots.
Lone men or men traveling in pairs are usually approached by beautiful local women often dressed in revealing attire who claim to be either tourists themselves or single ladies looking for a good time. Some might ask you a cigarette, helping to light a cigarette or pretend to be lost in order to ask you for directions. The ladies then introduce themselves more and use beguiling techniques to convince the men that their company is truly what they seek before suggesting a round of drinks.
The men who then agree are told of a great bar where the girls have had a good time on a previous night and taken to it on more seductive promises.
The men upon arriving upon the bar, find it as the girls describe with good music and order drinks for the girls and themselves, thinking nothing is amiss. The more sophisticated scammers might even buy the first round in order to convince their victims of their so-called harmless intentions. Once the drinks arrive the girls have been known to toast the men and use various seduction techniques to win their trust and lower their inhibitions. What one has to remember is that the drinks the girls are drinking are watered down alcohol while the ones consumed by the men are stronger than usual.
The men, now drunk with lowered inhibitions are now ready for being scammed and there are 2 popular methods through which this is done.
Drink spiking and robbing
Drink spiking can occur via 2 means;
The addition of alcohol to another drink that is alcoholic or nonalcoholic is the most common form of drink spiking.
The addition of a drug into another drink carries more serious consequences. The most commonly used drugs for spiking drinks as per the NHS are gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), tranquilizers and ketamine.
The victim once in a state of complete intoxication from the alcohol or the influence of the drug is propositioned with sexual favors by the girls. The victim who agrees then accompanies the girls to his accommodation where he falls into a stupor on the bed whilst the girls rob him of anything valuable.
The victim who wakes up the next morning has no recollection of the events of the previous night and has no information with which he could go to the police in order to report the crime committed.
The exorbitant bar bill
The man who is now under the effects of alcohol is presented with the bill which to his surprise is many times the amount he was expecting. Any protest will be shut down by the bartender who insists upon payment and calls upon the security guards of the bar for enforcement. The girls at this point will make themselves scarce, leaving the victim to fend for himself.
Another variation of this scam, however, sees the girls coughing up a small portion of the money, pretending to be surprised as the victim in order to encourage the victim to pay the full bill.
How to avoid
As your parents warned you, be wary of strangers.
Especially those who are as beautiful as the ones that have been known to be a part of this scam.
Some, however, might not be very beautiful, thereby setting the victim at ease. These women have been known to be intelligent, with good conversation topics and dressed stylishly but not provocatively.
Help strangers who ask for directions, cigarettes or anything you can assist with. Do however be careful when these strangers start displaying sudden attractiveness or interest in you. Traveling to another country does not automatically make a man attractive!
If these girls do invite you for a drink, decline the offer or take them to a bar of your choosing where you frequent and know the prices.
Finally, practice common sense and trust your intuition. If something feels too right it probably is not. If you are a victim of this scam make your physical health and well being a priority. No amount of money is worth getting injured by the cajoling of the bouncers of the bar.
