This time, the culprits are store owners or cashiers.

This is how these lowlifes do it. When you hand over your money to pay for the goods you intend to buy to the cashier, the cashier will switch your money with a fake money and will declare to you like “Sir, your money is fake!.” In tagalog, “Sir, fake ang pera nyo.” Much to your embarrassment.

How to avoid this scam. When you pay, take a good look at your money even when the money is in the cashier’s hand.

In case you forgot to do above. Tell the police that you’ve been duped. Ask around other people about the store’s modus operandi.

His modus operandi:
1. Would introduce himself as a priest or family relative. Would tell you he is planning to go to Rome, or Singapore for a mission trip, but short of funds.

2. He is effective because he speaks good English and is properly dressed.

Descriptions of the con artist/priest:
1. 30 to 40 years old
2. 5 foot 2 inches
3. Chubby
4. Clean cut hair

EDSA. There are a number of air conditioned buses that ply along EDSA.

Taft Avenue. Starting at Lawton, near the Manila City Hall.

Baclaran. But the buses there might already half full or almost filled. So it’s not a good idea if you take a bus from there.

Just recently, i read in the news, a cop, yes a police was involved in a robbery by snatching the bag of a motorcycle driving lady.

Cop charged for bag snatching
By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 16:49:00 10/08/2008

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila policeman is facing criminal and administrative charges for allegedly trying to snatch the bag of an employee of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP, Central Bank of the Philippines) early Wednesday morning in Malate.

The complaint against Police Officer 2 Abraham Mamicao, 30, assigned at the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 9 and resident of Lardizabal Street, Sampaloc, was filed, Ivy Maria Cinco, 30, an employee at the BSP’s Corporate Affairs Office, and her companion Bruce Miller, 51.

Superintendent Rogelio Rosales, chief of MPD Station 5, said Cinco and Miller were walking in the Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Copr.) employee’s parking space at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. Quintos Street around 2:30 a.m. when the suspect, who was onboard a motorcycle, suddenly passed by and tried to grab Cinco’s bag.

However, Cinco and Miller wrestled with the suspect for possession of the bag, which contained over P30,000 cash and other valuables. The commotion caught the attention of security guards at the parking lot, leading to Mamicao’s arrest.

Recovered from the suspect were his 9mm pistol Beretta service pistol the motorcycle.

I found this on the inquirer.net website:

Corpus appealed to the public to report their complaints or illegal acts of BFP and BJMP personnel directly to his Office at the DILG central office in Diliman, Quezon City or call 920-7783 and 925-9114.

Read it more below.

4 cops accused of taking P345,000 from businesswoman

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:41:00 03/18/2008

MANILA, Philippines – Four Quezon City policemen were relieved from active duty Monday after they were accused of taking P345,000 from a businesswoman whom they reportedly arrested at a checkpoint in Balintawak, Quezon City last week.

Supt. Christopher Mateo, chief of QCPD Mobile Patrol Unit, said he immediately ordered the relief of his men pending an investigation of the incident.

The four, whom Mateo refused to identify, would be confined to quarters at Camp Karingal in Sikatuna, Quezon City. Mateo said there was “strong documentary evidence” against the four.

“We will never allow corrupt policemen to undermine our efforts to bring the Philippine National Police closer to the people. Definitely, we will not tolerate this,” he told the Inquirer.

In her complaint, Cecille Garrido, 32, a businesswoman, identified a policeman named “Bacani” as among those who took her money.

Mateo confirmed that one of those relieved was a certain PO1 Bacani.

Garrido, a cell phone shop owner from Malabon, said she was in a taxicab together with Melvin Cruz and Jamiel Romuros at around 4 a.m. last March 12 when they were stopped by a police car near the bridge in Camachile, Barangay Balintawak.

Cruz said four men in police uniforms alighted from the patrol car and told them to get down from the taxi.

“The police officers searched our pockets and bags as if they were looking for something. They said it was just a checkpoint,” Cruz said.

At first, the policemen were courteous to them, he added.
But when they noticed the plastic bag containing the money inside Garrido’s handbag, they started harassing the victims, he said.

Cruz claimed one of the policemen said the money came from a drug deal. The policemen did not believe him when he said they were legitimate cell phone traders and that they were going to use the money to buy mobile phones from their supplier in Baclaran, he added.

Cruz said the four told them that they would be brought to a nearby police station.

But instead of doing so, Cruz said the policemen drove them around and continued to harass them inside the police car for at least one hour.

He said the four then dropped them off on D. Tuazon Road in La Loma, taking with them Garrido’s P345,000.

Just go to the C-5 highway in the inner Pasig City. Wait for an Toyota FX with a sign plate “Ayala.”  The ride would take you 15 to  30 minutes.

Since i live near the Pasig City Hall, i wait for those FXs in the Bagong Ilog area. The fare is 25.00 pesos (2008 rate).

I used to ride a jeep going to EDSA (10 pesos), then ride a bus heading to Makati (12-15 pesos). In total it would take me 40 minutes to more than hour.

So be careful when you’re in  Metro Manila especially in Alabang.

Most pickpockets or thief would bring an empty knapsack, they use this to literally cover while reaching for the wallet of a poor passenger.

These thieves would sometimes drop their coins or any object to attract the would be victim’s attention to it, while his business partner is busy getting his hands on the wallet.