Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 21 to 38 of 38

Thread: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
    Age
    83
    Posts
    10,736
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thanks
    8,000
    Thanked 47,842 Times in 8,288 Posts

    Re: Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by Seville View Post
    According to my mechanic it does only happen in Puerto Plata.
    How long have you lived here and you believe a Dominican? About anything?

    All over the world neighboring towns and villages are rivals, ususally denigrating each other. If you talk to Puertoplateños, Sosua is Sodom and Gomorrah combined. All in good fun, but they really do believe it.

    I was brought up in one of twin towns and the same thing happened. When I got a scholarship to a school in the other town it was like going to Fallujah as far as my friends were concerned. That was sixty years ago but the DR is still 100 years behind that era socially and educationally.

    I never waste any opportunity to denigrate Sosua. I am a Puertoplateño now.


  2. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    3,047
    Thanks
    16,639
    Thanked 29,784 Times in 2,952 Posts

    Re: Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by weyland View Post
    How long have you lived here and you believe a Dominican? About anything?

    All over the world neighboring towns and villages are rivals, ususally denigrating each other. If you talk to Puertoplateños, Sosua is Sodom and Gomorrah combined. All in good fun, but they really do believe it.

    I was brought up in one of twin towns and the same thing happened. When I got a scholarship to a school in the other town it was like going to Fallujah as far as my friends were concerned. That was sixty years ago but the DR is still 100 years behind that era socially and educationally.

    I never waste any opportunity to denigrate Sosua. I am a Puertoplateño now.
    I know the apple rarely falls far the tree but do you really think the fruit of your loins would be dumb enough to use a Dominican mechanic (that in itself is a supreme oxymoron)

  3. The Following 14 Users Say Thank You to WickedWillie For This Useful Post:


  4. #23
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Twilight Zone
    Posts
    8,638
    Thanks
    52,136
    Thanked 83,174 Times in 8,333 Posts

    Re: Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by weyland View Post
    How long have you lived here and you believe a Dominican? About anything?

    All over the world neighboring towns and villages are rivals, ususally denigrating each other. If you talk to Puertoplateños, Sosua is Sodom and Gomorrah combined. All in good fun, but they really do believe it.

    I was brought up in one of twin towns and the same thing happened. When I got a scholarship to a school in the other town it was like going to Fallujah as far as my friends were concerned. That was sixty years ago but the DR is still 100 years behind that era socially and educationally.

    I never waste any opportunity to denigrate Sosua. I am a Puertoplateño now.
    WW is right. You assume a lot. Just because you would be foolish enough to use a Dominican mechanic does not mean I am.

    And if I recall correctly the first time that scam was tried you were with me and you fell for it immediately. You were the one urging me to believe the Dominican that was telling us that my car was broken. I was the one ignoring him. How long have you lived here and you believed that Dominican scammer? It is the difference between book smarts and street smarts. With your above mentioned scholarship you gained a lot of book smarts. Street smarts; obviously not so much.
    Enjoy it while you can.

  5. The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to Seville For This Useful Post:


  6. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
    Age
    83
    Posts
    10,736
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thanks
    8,000
    Thanked 47,842 Times in 8,288 Posts

    Re: Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by Seville View Post
    And if I recall correctly the first time that scam was tried you were with me and you fell for it immediately. With your above mentioned scholarship you gained a lot of book smarts. Street smarts; obviously not so much.
    All true. And what was worse, like Snoozer, I had been told about similar scams years before but it didn't immediately come to mind. It was only when the guy was so persistent it dawned on me.

    But it was partially your fault. I warned you about a very nasty drainage gully at the corner, but just to spite me you accelerated into it like a rally driver (or like Thunderstar). There was a horrible crunching noise so when the guy stopped us few yards further on it was all too believable that you had done some damage.

    You are right about street-smarts. I have very little and it has cost me dearly all my life, most of all here in the DR. On the other hand, when I look at some guys who have street-smarts and little education I would not want to be like them.

    You have a nice balance of both, as some guys do.
    Last edited by weyland; 05-03-2014 at 04:24 PM.


  7. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Santo Domingo
    Age
    71
    Posts
    15,860
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thanks
    300,606
    Thanked 84,361 Times in 13,901 Posts

    Re: Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by WickedWillie View Post
    These wankers been doing this shit for years.

    They specifically target susceptible individuals like an older gringo driving alone or a gringo couple, as per when you had your incident.

    The ONLY way to prevent this is to have darkened tinted windows ALL ROUND and keep the windows up. (for some this may mean getting the A/C fixed..right Seville)

    Then the baddies cannot see clearly who is in the vehicle so will never take a chance that it may be some heat packing narco with his crew.
    Quote Originally Posted by weyland View Post

    The deciding factor is not the town, but whether you have soft target written over you. I can confidently say it has never happened to any publico I have been riding in!
    I'd swear you guys are trying to tell Seville something here....
    If you think it's love try not paying in the morning..

    "Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."

  8. The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to MrHappy For This Useful Post:


  9. #26
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Twilight Zone
    Posts
    8,638
    Thanks
    52,136
    Thanked 83,174 Times in 8,333 Posts

    Re: Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by weyland View Post
    All true. And what was worse, like Snoozer, I had been told about similar scams years before but it didn't immediately come to mind. It was only when the guy was so persistent it dawned on me.

    But it was partially your fault. I warned you about a very nasty drainage gully at the corner, but just to spite me you accelerated into it like rally driver (or like Thunderstar). There was a horrible crunching noise so when the guy stopped us few yards further on it was all too believable that you had done some damage.

    You are right about street-smarts. I have very little and it has cost me dearly all my life, most of all here in the DR. On the other hand, when I look at some guys who have street-smarts and little education I would not want to be like them.

    You have a nice balance of both, as some guys do.
    Could this be considered praise coming from my father? You know that is what every son really wants; his father's approval. Now that I have it I feel that I can move forward and I will be a much better adjusted person. Thanks Pops!


  10. #27
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    uk - east of england
    Age
    46
    Posts
    1,611
    Thanks
    10,570
    Thanked 12,418 Times in 1,349 Posts

    Re: Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by Seville View Post
    Could this be considered praise coming from my father? You know that is what every son really wants; his father's approval. Now that I have it I feel that I can move forward and I will be a much better adjusted person. Thanks Pops!

    Erm grandad - you missed me off the last paragraph!

    Anyway - saville and I are off to drive around Mombasa - dodging the hand grenades obviously!

  11. The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to thunderstar For This Useful Post:


  12. #28
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Age
    62
    Posts
    722
    Thanks
    185
    Thanked 4,555 Times in 660 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by Seville View Post
    Everyone should be very aware when driving in Puerto Plata. On two previous occasions Dominicans attempted to scam me while driving. They throw something at your car or under it so you hear some kind of bang or other noise. Then they pull up to you telling you they saw something fall off your car or whatever. Of course they know a mechanic that can fix the issue and are only too happy to help you. The first time this happened the guy even looked under my car and came out holding a part that "fell off". The part was not from my car. In both instances I just told them to go away.

    That brings us to Tuesday. I went to Puerto Plata early in the AM. I was going to the Ministry of Health to see about getting a couple of shots prior to my Africa trip. Almost as soon as I turned on the the malecon I noticed a SUV following me. To be certain I slowed and sped up several different times and it stayed right with me. When I turned at the fire station the SUV turned with me. So I made another left and it followed. Then I made two more lefts which brought me back out on the malecon. I no longer saw the SUV. I drove down the malecon a few blocks and then turned around to come back.

    I turned at the fire station and went up the street and made a right turn. I parked on the street. I did not see the SUV. Went into the building but it didn't take more than 15 minutes to figure out that getting the shots there was going to be too much hassle. I did notice a Dominican guy standing next to me when the woman was trying to explain all the BS I had to go through to get the shots. That BS included going to another place a few street over and getting a blood analysis prior to getting the shot.

    I returned to my car and the friendly Dominican drove up next to me just as I was going to start the car. He was motioning for me to follow him; as in he would show me where I needed to go for the analysis. But I was just returning to Sosua and I ignored him. Then when I turned the key to start the car nothing happened. I had power but nothing happened.
    Happened to me! I was driving on the four-lane road in front of Playa Dorado complex when I heard a bang on my right side. Didn't notice any problems. Silver Honda SUV pulled up next to me and pointed to my tire. I stopped, wisely on the busy street. All tires okay. Guy got out and pulled out a part. This scam is for real and should be avoided by pulling over, checking your tire and then driving off with a unfriendly finger pointing the way to the scammer. If you rent a car always call only the representative of the car agency. If you own a car, call only your mechanic. Do NOT accept any unsolicited warnings and/or advice from any Dominican! Drive on to a safe spot or at least a public place, check your car and call your representative if needed. Never ever trust unsolicited Dominican advice. Now as I say this, I must admit that one time in Santiago I had a driver point out to me that my car was overheating and, in fact, it was. But that guy simply told me that and then drove on. He was right, but neither he nor a follow-up car did anything else so I simply pulled into the Gran Almirante Hotel in Santiago and they provided all the assistance I need . . . fresh water. Still, my advice remains . . . Trust NO unsolicited advice from any Dominican!!! My other advice, believe in your heart of hearts that EVERYTHING is a scam. Final advice, make your own decisions without pressure from anyone.


  13. #29
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Always near a beach
    Posts
    1,336
    Thanks
    5,298
    Thanked 8,340 Times in 1,266 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    According to local residents that I spoke with this past weekend, the new spot is just B 4 you get to Fun City (after Star Hills) heading west into Puerto Plata. Several guys are located in the cane fields and will trow an object under your car. Seconds later a SUV will try to get you to pull into Fun City and tell you that a ball of fire was seen coming out from under the back of your car. If you are targeted in this area, you have been warned, continue at a safe speed toward your destination. As for the SUV that tries to get you to stop, one sign will do.
    “I don’t know the question, but sex is definitely the answer.”

  14. The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to steviewonder For This Useful Post:


  15. #30
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Alberta, Canada
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,720
    Blog Entries
    3
    Thanks
    15,429
    Thanked 11,553 Times in 1,620 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by steviewonder View Post
    According to local residents that I spoke with this past weekend, the new spot is just B 4 you get to Fun City (after Star Hills) heading west into Puerto Plata. Several guys are located in the cane fields and will trow an object under your car. Seconds later a SUV will try to get you to pull into Fun City and tell you that a ball of fire was seen coming out from under the back of your car. If you are targeted in this area, you have been warned, continue at a safe speed toward your destination. As for the SUV that tries to get you to stop, one sign will do.
    That is exactly where it happened to me. Never thought of someone hiding in the cane fields but makes sense because I was pretty sure I did not see anything on the road when I heard the bang. The silver Honda CRV directed me into the Fun City parking lot.

  16. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to snoozer For This Useful Post:


  17. #31
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
    Age
    83
    Posts
    10,736
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thanks
    8,000
    Thanked 47,842 Times in 8,288 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Has never happened to me when in a publico.

  18. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to weyland For This Useful Post:


  19. #32
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Amsterdam
    Posts
    4,216
    Thanks
    9,593
    Thanked 7,616 Times in 1,767 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by weyland View Post
    Has never happened to me when in a publico.
    But you have no airco and your clothes might wrinkle from the 5 tonnes of Dominican Grandma that is seated on your lap.

  20. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to continentalmike For This Useful Post:


  21. #33
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
    Age
    83
    Posts
    10,736
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thanks
    8,000
    Thanked 47,842 Times in 8,288 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by continentalmike View Post
    ... your clothes might wrinkle from the 5 tonnes of Dominican Grandma that is seated on your lap.
    Hey! Julie is not that fat!

    Quote Originally Posted by continentalmike View Post
    But you have no airco.
    Those I have graciously permitted to drive me about in the DR can testify that I always implore them to turn off the aircon and open all the windows instead.

  22. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to weyland For This Useful Post:


  23. #34
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Amsterdam
    Posts
    4,216
    Thanks
    9,593
    Thanked 7,616 Times in 1,767 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by weyland View Post
    Hey! Julie is not that fat!


    Those I have graciously permitted to drive me about in the DR can testify that I always implore them to turn off the aircon and open all the windows instead.
    OK, I understand that you prefer a simple life, which can be a good thing.

    Btw did I miss the part where the little retard bred?

  24. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to continentalmike For This Useful Post:


  25. #35
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    uk - east of england
    Age
    46
    Posts
    1,611
    Thanks
    10,570
    Thanked 12,418 Times in 1,349 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    I hope not - the future president of Haiti - or little retard as you call him - can only be 7 years old.
    I know they start young but 7 is a bit too young!

  26. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to thunderstar For This Useful Post:


  27. #36
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
    Age
    83
    Posts
    10,736
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thanks
    8,000
    Thanked 47,842 Times in 8,288 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by thunderstar View Post
    the future president of Haiti - or little retard as you call him - can only be 7 years old.
    Just turned 5 and playing happily with Buzz Lightyear's right arm as I write. Not sure where the rest of Buzz Lightyear has got to.

  28. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to weyland For This Useful Post:


  29. #37
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Age
    59
    Posts
    10,541
    Thanks
    76,308
    Thanked 52,955 Times in 9,807 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    Quote Originally Posted by continentalmike View Post
    OK, I understand that you prefer a simple life, which can be a good thing.

    Btw did I miss the part where the little retard bred?
    Who would that be?






  30. #38
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Amsterdam
    Posts
    4,216
    Thanks
    9,593
    Thanked 7,616 Times in 1,767 Posts

    Re: 05/2014 - Car Scam in Puerto Plata

    When I pointed out the dangers of being crushed by a 5 tonne Dominican Grandma in a publico, Weyland retorted that Julie wasn't fat yet. So making the bridge from Grandma to Julie, I asked when her son had made a baby...

    As always, we have gone rather far afield

  31. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to continentalmike For This Useful Post:


Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •