Gran Alacant Forum

Gran Alacant Forum => General Discussions => Topic started by: Jocla on April 03, 2017, 15:50.

Title: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Jocla on April 03, 2017, 15:50.: Hi all ....just sitting on the porch minding our own business when a man entered our gate and walked right in. He said he was from along the road and had just been burgled. He said he was Dutch . He is tall, late fifties or older with a green top and grey jogging pants; his socks were over the bottom of his joggers and he wore yellow trainers. He mostly spoke to my husband in good English but his eyes were a bit glazed and he looked a bit down at heel. I went in to the house at one point and I think this spooked him ( maybe thought I was calling police? ) he left shortly after .
We assume it was a potential scam...he didn't ask for anything but was mentioning locksmith /€500/cycling to elche....
Thought it worth posting here to alert people and now that the lovely weather is here we can all get a bit relaxed.
My gate is now locked !
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 03, 2017, 16:45.: Fair play to him.
He's done more to raise crime awareness in the area than any amount of publicly funded campaigns

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Spurs on April 03, 2017, 17:41.: I suspect this the same man who pulls all kind of scams from locked out of house need to borrow some money for locksmith to I'm a neighbour can you help me . Be aware he is always scamming and conning bloody lowlife want locking up !!
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 03, 2017, 18:26.: Is this him?, my old mate Peter
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170403/1b67396a226eb180a659f23e002489cd.jpg)

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Alan on April 03, 2017, 18:50.: Just logged on to report that this person was doing the rounds again and saw the post by Jocla. We are also in Puerto Marino and this afternoon, whilst I was out, he called at our house and came out with the burgled last night business and needs a temporary loan to help with lock replacement cost. My wife refused and was asked "Don't you trust me", because she is very polite she simply said no and he cleared off.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Peds and Lol on April 03, 2017, 18:57.: The same man was at our house this afternoon claiming he lived behind us and had been burgled this afternoon. I did not recognise him as living behind us! He asked where the president lived as he needed to report it! He did not ask for money but sure this is the same man!
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Spurs on April 03, 2017, 20:28.: He is scum he has tried all these before and will keep doing it need locking up for a long long time

Please look at photo and beware he is very convincing.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Jocla on April 03, 2017, 21:23.: Yes, that's him!
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 04, 2017, 14:21.: having been visited myself by dutch frank or whatever his current persona, i cant believe after all these years he is still walking the streets of GA trying his con trick. His he ever going to be locked up.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 04, 2017, 15:36.: Agreed, he will continue his con until someone reports him to the Police. Apathy is on his side, and the fact that people are embarrassed that they fell for his story.
I've heard his story first hand and he is very plausible, although he does look and smell like someone who lives rough and not a house owner.

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 04, 2017, 17:06.: It's not just apathy.
If you where on a weeks holiday would you want to waste at least half a day of your hard earned break finding out where you need to go to report the incident, travel there, keep your fingers crossed that they speak English all for the sake of losing €50 to a con man, €50 you won't get back even if you do report the crime
I know I wouldn't.
I'd mark it down to an experience, like checking your change in a bar, to learn from and enjoy the rest of my holiday

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: bramleylad on April 04, 2017, 20:43.: Could pictures of this man not be put up around GA ,even in the bars ,warning people of his "scam" .Summer is coming which will bring plenty of new targets for this scumbag to con ,which in turn shows GA in a negative light when holiday makers are going back home reporting of con men working in the area >:(
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 04, 2017, 21:48.: I agree John regarding non residents and tourists not wanting to spend their time in the policia station, i was referring to the residents of GA who must know more about frank than what is on this forum, he clearly has a vehicle what is it where does he keep it, where does he live, who with, so many questions but after several years no answers.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: dleafy on April 04, 2017, 22:59.: I can't believe this guy is still getting away with this.
He must be making a good living
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 04, 2017, 23:52.: Let's keep it in perspective, GA IMHO is a very peaceful low crime area, the last thing I'd like to see are "wanted" posters in the bars.
Surely some responsibility lies with the owners who rent their properties out to provide information to their customers on the "scams" in the area as part of the pack of information they provide

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: bramleylad on April 05, 2017, 01:40.: Not wanted John merely warning ,as in" please be aware this man is operating in the area" surely if it stopped innocent people getting ripped off it's worth it? and you know with the some of the rentals they don't give a monkeys who is having their property as long as they are getting their money let alone perhaps put them off with stories of scams
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 05, 2017, 08:58.: "Please be aware" "wanted" whatever, completely over the top.
He's a petty conman operating a fairly harmless con just as countless others are doing in holiday resorts around the world

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 05, 2017, 18:16.: Quote from: victor on April 04, 2017, 21:48.
I agree John regarding non residents and tourists not wanting to spend their time in the policia station, i was referring to the residents of GA who must know more about frank than what is on this forum, he clearly has a vehicle what is it where does he keep it, where does he live, who with, so many questions but after several years no answers.

Lots of people know of him and his MO, he apparently drives a blue German plated small car and lives in El Altet. when I took his picture and drove him out of my urb I soon realised from talking to other residents that he has been at it for about 10 years, and probably has not been caught in that time, I know he won't be visiting where I live for a long time.

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: dleafy on April 05, 2017, 20:25.: I'm not entirely sure he's doing anything illegal?
From what I can gather he doesn't steal anything, he just asks for money and people give him some without any formal agreement to get any of it back.
Might try it ;)
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 05, 2017, 21:52.: Sorry dleafy im not sure of the spanish equivalent but under uk law it is a crime under several types, easily a fraud or just simple obtaining property ie money under false pretences, as soon as someone hands him money the offence is complete.
when the wife intercepted him last year his sole intention was to obtain money under a false story with no intention of giving it back.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 06, 2017, 18:10.: Quote from: dleafy on April 05, 2017, 20:25.
I'm not entirely sure he's doing anything illegal?
From what I can gather he doesn't steal anything, he just asks for money and people give him some without any formal agreement to get any of it back.
Might try it ;)

He says he will pay you back the next day when he can get more money from the ATM, that's why he uses the sum of €540/50, as most ATMs won't let you take out more than €500 a day, he also states he lives on the Urb where you are, and that he has been burgled, all complete fabrication for his con.
Which puts it into the theft/fraud area of UK law.
I don't know if Spanish law covers this scenario?.

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 06, 2017, 18:38.: If his crime was that heinous the Spanish authorities would have put an end to his little game.
I'm sure they have bigger fish to fry than him.
If I called into the Police station at home and said I'd lent £50 to someone I didn't know and they said they'd pay me back and haven't I reckon the officer and desk would call me a mug and tell me that I'd hopefully learned my lesson before wishing me good afternoon

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: dleafy on April 06, 2017, 20:34.: Have to say...I agree with you John.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be my mam used to say.
I know some people are very generous and willing to help their fellow man....but if some stranger wanted me to give them money, they'd have to wait half an hour for me to stop laughing before I said no!

Cheers
Davy !!!
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 06, 2017, 21:08.: Same here!, he will carry on picking on the gullible until someone gives him a slap

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 06, 2017, 21:15.: Its a fine line between being a right chump where your mates say "you never fell for that old tale " and my late nan who at the age of 92 was relieved of a £100 on her doorstep by a member of the travelling fraternity who told her a convincing tale of the cost of replacing a water main which coincidentally the local water board were doing out in the street, my nan duly paid her share as did several other elderly residents. The point being when dutch frank comes round he doesnt know or care whether the person will tell him to sling his hook or a vulnerable 92 year old will gladly lend him the money, either way he needs locking up.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Chris C on April 06, 2017, 22:50.: Quote from: John Hannon on April 05, 2017, 08:58.
"Please be aware" "wanted" whatever, completely over the top.
He's a petty conman operating a fairly harmless con just as countless others are doing in holiday resorts around the world

Regards all

John

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Harmless? He's a serial con merchant obtaining money by deception. I am certain that the Spanish authorities (knowing how much they value the tourism economy in the area) would take a dim view if enough people complained! Why should he get away with it.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 07, 2017, 07:02.: He doesn't make forceful entry into peoples property, he doesn't damage people's property
He doesn't demand money with menaces or threaten people at all.
He gives a sob story that people fall for.
At least those who fall for it know what they've done and had a choice in the matter, they just made the wrong one.
The bar staff who short change me don't offer me the choice of furnishing their pockets with my hard earned nor do the pick pockets in Lidll
On the scale of things I'd say he is harmless

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Duncan S on April 07, 2017, 09:26.: Sorry John, he is a serial thief. Obtaining property by any deception WHATSOEVER is theft. No entry need be gained;no property needs to be damaged and no threats need to be made.
The short change merchants are also committing theft as are the pickpockets. Tolerate these offences and the type of crimes escalate.
He needs to be stopped!
Duncan S
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: MDAES75 on April 07, 2017, 11:21.: He was in Altomar 2, GA last night. Same guy as on the photos and wearing joggers and yellow trainers. Knocked on our door at 10pm. I was watching a movie with my wife and young kids. He said he was a neighbour (Dutch) and had been burgled and was locked out. Moaned about the Spanish police and said they told him to sleep outside and a local Irish bar had given his wife and kids a sandwich. He looked a bit glazed (possibly a user??) and talked constantly. From initially thinking he could be a neighbour warning us of a burglary, I quickly realised he was a conman and had to quite forcefully tell him that we didn't know him and weren't going to help him. He did leave but actually pretended to start crying as he left!! When he got to the end of the drive, he had a conversation with someone who had apparently been standing/waiting out of sight. I don't know if this was a passer-by or accomplice. I'm going to pop down to the local police today to make them aware. By the way, I'm only here on holiday, it was only after he'd gone that I Googled the words 'conman' and 'gran alacant' when I found this thread and thought I'd register to add my own experience.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Spurs on April 07, 2017, 11:30.: Last time he knocked on my door I told him he would get a slap if he returned ... haven't seen him since
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Alicante Holiday Villas on April 07, 2017, 14:36.: Unfortunately under Spanish law, non-violent theft of amounts under €400 are not covered by the criminal code. This is how he and others like him get away with it time and time again. >:(

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/04/10/inenglish/1397141607_871230.html
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Stan on April 07, 2017, 16:22.: Just tell him to turn up at John's door, he seems to think he is harmless!
Title: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 07, 2017, 16:44.: He'd be more than welcome Stan, like the others who've tried it his first visit would be his last.

I often wonder if that guys injured cat is still on my roof, or if my water pressure really does need testing, or the valve on the gas fire pressure testing, or if they've raised enough money for homeless children, or if that rare butterfly did get in my house, still I can wonder about all this whilst that nice chap from Microsoft can talk to me about the virus on my computer.

I see that the lad who sits outside Mercadona looking for a job has had a nice new haircut and had a few tints added, folk must be feeling generous

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 07, 2017, 16:51.: Im taking the serious stance simply because were quite relaxed in our spanish house though not complacent. When frank visited last year he let himself into the garden and was near the open front door being august, our 2 and 5 year old were playing outside, the wife heard the gate click and knowing the handle is high level went out onto the balcony and nearly bumped into frank who then gave his sob story. i came to see what was happening and even not being aware of who he was sent him packing. Were the kids harmed,no, was money taken again, no, but it changed 14 years of relaxed attitude, now we have a new gate which is always locked.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 07, 2017, 17:58.: I guess this scenario is just another difference in our cultures, oh how I wish I could have been a Spanish copper, not having to deal with anything under €400 would be bliss and I bet they don't deal with Facebook crimes either, just people swimming in the pool at siesta time.;)

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Stuart159 on April 07, 2017, 18:41.: A politician you see daily on TV makes a promise.You take it, at best, with a pinch of salt. A bloke you've never seen before wants money and promises to return it! Just let that sink in.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Stan on April 07, 2017, 19:30.: Why would it be his last visit John? If he is harmless you are not going to kick his ass surely, he is doing no wrong after all!
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Chris C on April 07, 2017, 19:48.: Quote from: Stan on April 07, 2017, 16:22.
Just tell him to turn up at John's door, he seems to think he is harmless!

At 2am in the morning.

I don't think he's harmless, and certainly not welcome in GA. The more people who are aware the better
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 07, 2017, 19:56.: Agreed, this chap walked into my friends lounge and the door opening woke her up, what would he have got up to if she had been upstairs or on her own, he had previously stolen her husbands pipe from outside, he is far from harmless.

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 07, 2017, 20:08.: Quote from: Chris C on April 07, 2017, 19:48.
Quote from: Stan on April 07, 2017, 16:22.
Just tell him to turn up at John's door, he seems to think he is harmless!

At 2am in the morning.

I don't think he's harmless, and certainly not welcome in GA. The more people who are aware the better

He might be harmless but I'm not Stan ;-)
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: dleafy on April 07, 2017, 23:05.: I've already described how I drove past him but by the time I'd turned around he'd vanished. Seems like plenty people have had the chance to stop him but haven't. Finding and stopping him surely can't be difficult. The guy 'works ' everyday and wears the same clothes!!!

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Stan on April 08, 2017, 11:00.: John, as I asked previously why would you wish to do him harm if you say he is harmless and doing no wrong?
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 08, 2017, 13:24.: He is harmless Stan, wouldn't hurt a fly from all that I've read, it's one of the reasons he stays clear of the law.
However if someone wants to scam me they'd be left in no doubt as to how I felt and if they entered my house uninvited a respectable amount of force would be used to evict them, comprende?

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Stan on April 09, 2017, 00:43.: You say he is harmless and doing nothing wrong so why would he try to scam you? "Scam" would imply a crime and a crime would be likely to cause you harm and be illegal surely? I can understsnd that perhaps you mean that he is unlikely to become violent but in no way can he be described as harmless and doing nothing wrong while the sole reason for him to visit GA is to dupe innocent people into parting with their hard earned cash in return for a pack of lies.
Comprende?
Title: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 09, 2017, 09:05.: Where did I say he's doing nothing wrong Stan?
He's a cheap scam man , as noted previously he doesn't damage property and isn't violent, in my book harmless
If he threatened folk with violence or did criminal damage he would be having porridge for breakfast.
The sky is blue today, can we agree on that?

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Stan on April 09, 2017, 10:41.: I think you and I would probably agree on many things John, including the sunshine! I still however say that you can't have it both ways with the door to door scammer, either he is trying to obtain money by fraud, in which case he is certainly not harmless or he is likened to a beggar where people just pay up without questioning his story. Enjoy the sunshine!
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 09, 2017, 12:23.: Cheers Stan, have a great day

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Sookie on April 20, 2017, 20:14.: Just had a phone call from friends of mine who have a yellow house opposite novar mar to tell me their guest have been done for €40 by the con man. He actually walked into the house. He used the same old story.

I did tell her about him but unfortunately she never thought to tell her guest.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 21, 2017, 09:13.: If he entered the property without permission then this would be deemed a more serious offence and needs reporting to the local police just a walk away.
On a seperate point all the new shiny mailboxes on puerto have each persons name on, totally needed but sadly gives con man easy info when he visits, when he came to ours he was reeling neighbours names off which gave initial credibility to his story.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 21, 2017, 09:41.: Slightly off subject, but why do mail boxes need your name on?
Ours have our house number on.....there is space and a slot to enter your name which only two or three people have ever used

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 21, 2017, 18:26.: Good point regarding names not being needed, because even with names, house numbers etc the correos man seems incapable of delivering important letters to the right people, ive lost count of bank letters ive found in my box for other people.
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 21, 2017, 19:39.: As in the UK Victor I opt to receive everything electronically, so much easier
Although in fairness to the postal service here I never had a problem with missing mail

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: bertdove on April 21, 2017, 20:45.: I believe our postman is Stevie Wonder, so I make allowances---

Bert
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: llamedos on April 21, 2017, 20:50.: The postman/person never fails to deliver the electric and water bills, but a Christmas card was 8 weeks late!.

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 22, 2017, 12:43.: Mr Scam man has just visited us
The visit lasted all of 30 seconds.
He's looking a bit scruffy is the lad
Looks like he's working Novamar at the moment

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 22, 2017, 13:28.: Just had a Swedish couple from Novamar 2 called at our house to warn me about him, he's just tried it on with them
She did say that his bright red trainers had magical powers when she saw how fast he ran away

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 22, 2017, 13:32.: They knew about him from reading GAsbags

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 22, 2017, 14:07.: Maybe the policia local and the ayumentio could join the forum, then take some positive action to rid us of this menace
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: BeachLife on April 22, 2017, 14:14.: He cant be that bright as to think that word isnt out about him .....

Had the charity man the other day - sod woke me up from my siesta - kept him at the gate while I pretended to go for some money but came out with the iPhone.

Next time I'll have it in camera mode (doh) as I walk out the door - he did a decent impression of Usain Bolt when I raised it up !!
Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: John H on April 22, 2017, 14:40.: His first question to me, after telling me he'd just been robbed and he was one of my neighbours was "are you a holiday maker or resident"
Had my answer been holiday maker he may well have turned on the water works and his sob story

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: Russell on May 07, 2017, 01:42.: Well if he knocks on my door he shall be asking for help to get out of my pool not a locksmith. And that's after I have taken my foot off his head.
So come on Frank the Dutchmen if your reading this knock on my door you con artist.
Russell T.

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Title: Re: Scam man in Puerto Marino now ?
Post by: hyetometer on September 11, 2017, 11:51.: Hi all,

please also have a look at the discussion 'con man alert'.

http://www.gasbags.us/index.php?topic=1532.0;topicseen

He 'visited' Arenales del Sol in November 2016 and told me the same story. I'm German, and he's definitely German, too, speaking with an accent of a North-German. The name he told me was Karl-Heinz. For British people he probably uses Frank, can be better pronounced by them, and maybe he thinks a Dutchman is more trustworthy and likeable to the British than a German.

As to the legal consequences: I reported the incident to the housekeeper, who accompanied me to the adminstration. They rang the police and were told, that they couldn't do anything. If at all, it was a case for the 'policia nacional'.

I was very upset even days later, not so much because of the 50 Euros, but because I was so stupid to believe him and because I'm German and feel he damages our reputation. (There are very few Germans around in Arenales, I only know one couple.)

Monika