Earlier today, some guy calling himself ‘Andrew’ called me posing as a client. He requested for the mobile number of graphic designers I knew; specifically freelance designers. The alibi he shared with me was he is working with an international company and his colleague (Madam Tan) passed him my number. Then, he told me the company wants to design catalogs and brochures. Even had the cheek to tell me they had a RM10,000 budget.
His reason of not being able to tell me the company name is in the past, someone from a large agency leaked their product idea out and it was copied. Carelessly believing his story, I passed him 3 mobile numbers of people I knew. Out of the 3 people, two run small graphic design companies. And he met with one of them.
I only got to know he was a conman after my friend relayed the story to his colleague and the colleague told me. His colleague told me his mobile phone was stolen during the meeting. How it happened was ‘Andrew’ told my friend his mobile didn’t have very good reception and asked to borrow my friend’s mobile. Later, he told my friend the reception indoors wasn’t good and asked to step out for awhile. Like any helpless victim, my friend only noticed ‘Andrew’ stole his phone when he didn’t return after awhile.
If a guy or girl calls you telling a somewhat similar story, either ignore their request or never lend them your mobile phone without you beside them; without a police station nearby; or with few people around (if you’re a female).
I’ve already informed all my friends and if you’re a Malaysia designer, please do inform your friends too.
p.s: I found out from a friend this is an electronics device syndicate at work and they’re back to con Malaysia designers again. So take extra care of your mobile phones, laptops and any other expensive electronic devices.
p.p.s: The guy used a Maxis mobile number.
Hey Danny, thanks for sharing. I’ll never lend my phone to strangers.
Holy crap that’s scary! I would’ve fallen for that – anybody would! Thanks for sharing.
I guess this applies to everyone, not only designers. My uncles fell into this trap years back. He was meeting up with a ‘client’ in a hotel lounge. After a short conversation, the ‘client’ wanted to call somebody (probably his wife) and asked my uncle to borrow his mobilephone. ‘He’ then pretended that there is bad reception and hence, have to make that call outside the building. To feel assured, ‘he’ left a briefcase with my uncle. My uncle waited for more than 1 hour before he got to realise that that conman is gone with his mobilephone. Upon opening the briefcase, there are rocks and blank papers in it (to make it looked heavy). But lucky for my uncle, the mobilephone is very old and cheap and full of scars on it.
Fath:
My friend is too nice a guy. Sigh…and I feel like crap for him.
Mike:
I know. And like Chong said, they’ll act like any client from whatever industry. Their main aim is to steal your electronics. B*stards.
Chong:
Thanks for sharing more information on other plights used before.
It’s just fascinating how conman get better and better than making excuses and setting up scenarios to steal your valuables. My cousin got a similar experience was well – he was in a club at Bukit Bintang and a stranger walked up to him and initiated a conversation. And then halfway through it (when the stranger believes that he had gained enough trust), he asked for my cousin’s mobile phone. Claiming that it’s too noisy inside, he went out to ‘make a call’ and he never returned. She was fuming mad later, but she saw no point in making a police report.
I think the safest thing to do is not to lend anyone your phone. It sounds really, really selfish, but blame it on this social malaise.
Hmmm, seems like a lot of trouble just for a mobile phone. And mobile phones these days aren’t worth that much. But I suppose, if you could meet 20 “clients” a day and get 20 mobile phones, it may be somewhat worth all the effort.