With my long run-ins with conmen, I think it might be prudent to share some modus operandi with the rest.
Most of them claims to be datuks or connection with datuks. In the process of dirtying the datuk's name, they will produce documents of supposed approvals ranging from timber concessions, lease of land, special auctions or licences or other government projects. Normally by the time they reached you, it would have gone through many hands and the meetings are with a large coterie of similarly hoodwinked individuals who fear they may lose their cut of the commission if they are not present in the meeting.
All come with the promise or even guarantee of approval and no up-front money. They will probably flash name cards or other paraphernalia to impress their credentials. Two or three meetings down the road, they will complained that they need to entertained upwards and start asking for money. If you give, be prepared to continue giving and I have seen people cheated of life savings and getting indebted.
At this stage, I always direct these conmen to the loan sharks with the promise that I will pay their debts when the project is successful, else they take care of it themselves. It is then the guarantee of success changes to language of doubt and they realised in their futility that their elaborate con will not succeed.
Some pointers that you can spot a con:
- Too good to be true.
These people give the government a bad name knowing that once conned, you will be too embarrassed to report him to the police anyway. They will continue with the same con year after year. I have seen the same project presented to me three times over the last two years. Some of them looked real.
Steps that you can protect yourself.
- Insist on inspection the site, goods, etc, yourself and to speak to the person in charge. Even that does not guarantee against a con. Learn to ask rude and probing question after all, they are trying to earn your money, not the other way round.
Above all, learn to walk away.