I don't think people understand the genius of this scam above...one of my Facebook friends (already my friend on Facebook) asked me to "Add" her again. She had the same photo and profile as my "real" friend, but was not her. I added her, thinking that maybe she accidentally deleted me from her Facebook. Then she started sending me messages, telling me how "Happy" she was that she won money! The genius part is that she never gave me many details about how she won the money. She only suggested that i "Contact" the people giving away the money. This would pull in a lot of people who do not know any better--really old people, or really poor people from third world countries--who would not know any better. The genius of the scam is that you think it is your "friend" telling you that they got the money, and they only tell you that you should contact the same people because she has already got her money. I'm so glad my 78yrs old mom does not do the internet. Frank
- Thread starter frank12
- Start date
Cabarete Diaries, part 2
Thanks for the heads up Frank because my 88 year old mom is on Facebook every morning (she does a lot of "liking" but doesn't know how to chat (never answers, or maybe just not me, the black sheep)).
Hey guys,
I’m selling everything I own. I moved down to paradise last year without really thinking things through very well. I know, I know, I should have done a little more research. It’s too late for that now. My loss is your gain.
A little bit about myself…
I came down here for a one-week vacation last year and fell in love with the place. I thought, “Wow, I really found paradise here! Hallelujah!” I swam in the ocean, I danced Merengue, I rode horses, I drank cheap rum out of coconuts, I also got hit on by every Dominican male on the North Coast. I thought to myself, “My god, I am a Rock Star down here!” This is Paradise.
Day one: I went to the beach. I laid down on the beautiful yellowish sand and dug my toes deep into the sand and watched my dead skin cells exfoliate by themselves. It’s a miracle. I laid in the sun—which I had not seen in over 4 months. I had waiters bringing me delicious Pina Colodas, Mojitos, and cold beer--most of which I hadn’t even ordered…it was almost as if they could read my mind! It was surreal. Dominicans are so clairvoyant.
I had girls coming over and braiding my hair. I had girls giving me a pedicure with a pair of scissors and an electric hand-saw. I had girls coming over and giving me massages. I had girls coming over and cutting fruit for me. I asked them, “How much is this going to cost?”
They just laughed, and said, “Pay us what you can,” and then they added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
Day two: I was walking down the beach and this beautiful, shirtless man, came riding up on a horse! Can you believe it…a real live horse on the beach! Can you imagine? It was surreal. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like the movie “Blue Lagoon.” The man asked, “Do you want to go on a horseback ride on the beach?”
I said, “Hell, yeah! How much does it cost?”
He just laughed, and said, “Pay me what you can,” and then he added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
It was so fun. I got to ride this really skinny horse on the beach all day. It was amazing! Ok, granted, the horse was a little skinny and underfed, and it had some sores on its back, but this beautiful man said this was normal…and then he added, “All Dominican horses have sores on their back, no problem.”
Day three: I was just sitting at a bar on the beach, minding my own business, when suddenly, this small Dominican guy started up a conversation with me. He spoke perfect English...well, almost. He said that he used to live in American. He said that he worked in the Import/Export business in New York before he had to suddenly leave. I was shocked. It just goes to show, “You can never judge a book by its cover!” He invited me on a tour around the north coast; he said, “Would you like to go on a wonderful tour of the north coast?”
I said, “Hell, yeah! How much does it cost?”
He just laughed, and said, “Pay me what you can,” and then he added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
He took me to Sosua beach and Pedro Clisante. We sat down and ate and drank rum and beer and ate food. A lot of food. Wow, he was a big eater for such a small guy! Everything was delicious. I loved it. Ok, one funny thing though…he brought all of his friends with him, and none of them had any money. I had to pay for everyone. It was expensive, but I thought, “What the hell, I’m on vacation!”
Later, he took me into a barrio and showed me where his family lives. It was small…not at all like the house I grew up in up North. They lived in this small shack, with an outhouse out back. They had this lagoon out back where they dumped all of their trash. His shack was tiny. I couldn’t believe it. I have never seen anything like it before. It was like movie. It was a little shocking. I gave his family everything I had. How could I not? His mom was in the hospital for surgery, his sister was on the way to the hospital for surgery, his brother needed surgery, his motorcycle wouldn’t start, their outhouse needed a new roof, their donkey had run away, their dog was tied up out back with no food…it was endless. I tried to write them a check, they looked at me like I was from outer space, and said, “We’ll take cash.” What can you say, ”Cash is King!” Later, he took me home and proposed Marriage to me. I thought that’s odd…he doesn’t even know my name!
Day four: I partied all day and night. I danced, I frolicked, I spoke the 7 words of Spanish I learned in High School. I drank a little too much…I projectile vomited on a stray beach dog. The dog just looked up at me and smiled…and then he proceeded to lick up all of my vomit up with gusto. Then his other stray dog friends came around and waited for me to projectile vomit on them as well. It was like a smorgasbord out there on the beach. They waited in line for my vomit. What can you say, ”Dogs love vomit!”
I had so much fun, but then I felt sick and needed to go back to my motel. I grabbed a motoconcho out in front of the bar. I asked him, “How much will it cost to go 100 meters down the road to my hotel?”
He just laughed, and said, “Pay me what you can,” and then added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
When we got to my motel, I didn’t have enough money on me to pay him. I thought, “Wow, this was a really expensive taxi ride!” but he said that it was standard fare for 100 meters. I had to go to the ATM machine and withdrawal everything I had to pay him.
Day five: On the last day of my vacation I met a really beautiful Dominican guy. He worked at my hotel as an “Entertainer.” Man, could he dance!…and sweet talk!…and kiss!...and Lie!!
Wow, it was love at first site. He said, "You are the only girl for me; we are made for each other!” He said it just like that, "You and I are made for each other!"
Ok, I thought it a little odd that he didn’t even know my name yet, but things are different down here. I also thought it was a little odd that he didn’t have a girlfriend or wife (everyone seems to have one down here). But, what could I do…I was in love!
We started dating. And then I found out that he lied to me. Can you believe that? He actually lied to me! I still can’t believe it! I am shocked! Shocked I tell you! It turns out that he does have a wife...and he has children as well.
Now I must sell everything I have. Here are some things I have for sale, I’ll post more later after I find my Iphone 6 plus. I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
I’m selling everything I own. I moved down to paradise last year without really thinking things through very well. I know, I know, I should have done a little more research. It’s too late for that now. My loss is your gain.
A little bit about myself…
I came down here for a one-week vacation last year and fell in love with the place. I thought, “Wow, I really found paradise here! Hallelujah!” I swam in the ocean, I danced Merengue, I rode horses, I drank cheap rum out of coconuts, I also got hit on by every Dominican male on the North Coast. I thought to myself, “My god, I am a Rock Star down here!” This is Paradise.
Day one: I went to the beach. I laid down on the beautiful yellowish sand and dug my toes deep into the sand and watched my dead skin cells exfoliate by themselves. It’s a miracle. I laid in the sun—which I had not seen in over 4 months. I had waiters bringing me delicious Pina Colodas, Mojitos, and cold beer--most of which I hadn’t even ordered…it was almost as if they could read my mind! It was surreal. Dominicans are so clairvoyant.
I had girls coming over and braiding my hair. I had girls giving me a pedicure with a pair of scissors and an electric hand-saw. I had girls coming over and giving me massages. I had girls coming over and cutting fruit for me. I asked them, “How much is this going to cost?”
They just laughed, and said, “Pay us what you can,” and then they added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
Day two: I was walking down the beach and this beautiful, shirtless man, came riding up on a horse! Can you believe it…a real live horse on the beach! Can you imagine? It was surreal. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like the movie “Blue Lagoon.” The man asked, “Do you want to go on a horseback ride on the beach?”
I said, “Hell, yeah! How much does it cost?”
He just laughed, and said, “Pay me what you can,” and then he added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
It was so fun. I got to ride this really skinny horse on the beach all day. It was amazing! Ok, granted, the horse was a little skinny and underfed, and it had some sores on its back, but this beautiful man said this was normal…and then he added, “All Dominican horses have sores on their back, no problem.”
Day three: I was just sitting at a bar on the beach, minding my own business, when suddenly, this small Dominican guy started up a conversation with me. He spoke perfect English...well, almost. He said that he used to live in American. He said that he worked in the Import/Export business in New York before he had to suddenly leave. I was shocked. It just goes to show, “You can never judge a book by its cover!” He invited me on a tour around the north coast; he said, “Would you like to go on a wonderful tour of the north coast?”
I said, “Hell, yeah! How much does it cost?”
He just laughed, and said, “Pay me what you can,” and then he added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
He took me to Sosua beach and Pedro Clisante. We sat down and ate and drank rum and beer and ate food. A lot of food. Wow, he was a big eater for such a small guy! Everything was delicious. I loved it. Ok, one funny thing though…he brought all of his friends with him, and none of them had any money. I had to pay for everyone. It was expensive, but I thought, “What the hell, I’m on vacation!”
Later, he took me into a barrio and showed me where his family lives. It was small…not at all like the house I grew up in up North. They lived in this small shack, with an outhouse out back. They had this lagoon out back where they dumped all of their trash. His shack was tiny. I couldn’t believe it. I have never seen anything like it before. It was like movie. It was a little shocking. I gave his family everything I had. How could I not? His mom was in the hospital for surgery, his sister was on the way to the hospital for surgery, his brother needed surgery, his motorcycle wouldn’t start, their outhouse needed a new roof, their donkey had run away, their dog was tied up out back with no food…it was endless. I tried to write them a check, they looked at me like I was from outer space, and said, “We’ll take cash.” What can you say, ”Cash is King!” Later, he took me home and proposed Marriage to me. I thought that’s odd…he doesn’t even know my name!
Day four: I partied all day and night. I danced, I frolicked, I spoke the 7 words of Spanish I learned in High School. I drank a little too much…I projectile vomited on a stray beach dog. The dog just looked up at me and smiled…and then he proceeded to lick up all of my vomit up with gusto. Then his other stray dog friends came around and waited for me to projectile vomit on them as well. It was like a smorgasbord out there on the beach. They waited in line for my vomit. What can you say, ”Dogs love vomit!”
I had so much fun, but then I felt sick and needed to go back to my motel. I grabbed a motoconcho out in front of the bar. I asked him, “How much will it cost to go 100 meters down the road to my hotel?”
He just laughed, and said, “Pay me what you can,” and then added, “No problem…we’ll discuss price later.” I said to myself, "Now, this is paradise."
When we got to my motel, I didn’t have enough money on me to pay him. I thought, “Wow, this was a really expensive taxi ride!” but he said that it was standard fare for 100 meters. I had to go to the ATM machine and withdrawal everything I had to pay him.
Day five: On the last day of my vacation I met a really beautiful Dominican guy. He worked at my hotel as an “Entertainer.” Man, could he dance!…and sweet talk!…and kiss!...and Lie!!
Wow, it was love at first site. He said, "You are the only girl for me; we are made for each other!” He said it just like that, "You and I are made for each other!"
Ok, I thought it a little odd that he didn’t even know my name yet, but things are different down here. I also thought it was a little odd that he didn’t have a girlfriend or wife (everyone seems to have one down here). But, what could I do…I was in love!
We started dating. And then I found out that he lied to me. Can you believe that? He actually lied to me! I still can’t believe it! I am shocked! Shocked I tell you! It turns out that he does have a wife...and he has children as well.
Now I must sell everything I have. Here are some things I have for sale, I’ll post more later after I find my Iphone 6 plus. I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
Cabarete Diaries part 2
I prostrate myself before you. You are the King, the Queen, the Emperor/Empress, the Caesar of Funny.
I snorted scotch out of my nose when I got to the part about the donkey running away. (It's OK; it's pretty cheap scotch.)
I've been in serious need of a giggle, and this not only provided a giggle, but a true guffaw.
I prostrate myself before you. You are the King, the Queen, the Emperor/Empress, the Caesar of Funny.
I snorted scotch out of my nose when I got to the part about the donkey running away. (It's OK; it's pretty cheap scotch.)
I've been in serious need of a giggle, and this not only provided a giggle, but a true guffaw.
Chapter 209 (Anatomy of Extortion…Dominican Style.) by Frank Wilman
It starts on a Thursday, Feb 26, 2015 when an unlicensed Dominican driving an unlicensed uninsured motorcycle rear ends an insured car driven by licensed expat driver making a legal left turn. In the car with me were my wife, daughter and 2 year old grandson.
The motorcycle driver is taken to the medical clinic next to the police station treated for cut and bruises and leaves without paying the bill. The police are called and the expat tourist accompanies them to the police station. The police investigate and tell the expat no problem, fairly straight forward obviously the motorcycles fault. Reports are being taken and signed off on. The report took about 4 hrs. (Just enough time for a local lawyer to produce a piece of official looking piece of paper with a lot of stamps on it.)
The Local lawyers have an arrangement with some police and they get tipped off when these things occur (Ambulance chasers. happens all over.) A local lawyer (we will call her Daisy) produces an affidavit stating that the motorcyclist was injured and was transported to the Puerto Plata hospital. This was not the case but was unknown at the time. This triggers a process (because of the erroneous reporting severity of the injury) where the police report and the Expat tourist has to travel to Sosua to be interviewed by the prosecutor.
No problem off we go with the policeman and a report that says it is the other person fault. In the meantime friends and my wife contact the Doctor at the clinic where the Motorcyclist was taken to check on his condition. Turns out he was not too badly hurt, and got up and walked out with paying his bill. No problem. We pay the bill and get a signed statement from the doctor stating the fellow left on his own power, bruised, but not badly hurt. We also stop by a local shop where the accident occurred. And recover a video of the accident from their security cameras.
Later we are now all in Sosua and the local lawyer (Daisy) presents her case to the local Prosecutor, Dilsia Taveras. The prosecutor ignores the police report and does not want to see the Video or the statement from the Doctor who treated the injured motorcyclist. She was only interested in where I stayed, if I was a Tourist, and when my flight out was booked for. She says there is no problem, but there is enough evidence of an injury that a hearing is required. She collects my passport and tells me to return tomorrow morning at 09:00 hrs. For the hearing. (Come into my web says the spider to the Fly). I was assured the judge at the hearing will dismiss the case.
During the time we were present at the court house my wife is observing the goings on. It occurs to her there are only Expats here, no Dominicans. It seems that only Expats break the law. We meet an Austrian couple staying at Perla Marina that had driven up from Bavaro three days before and planned to drive back the following day. Their door was side-swiped by a motochoncho driver, he had asked for money, they refused as in the rest of the free world, it would have been his fault and there was no damage to either vehicle. The Motochoncho driver feigned an injury, showed up with a lawyer, and off they went to the see the same prosecutor that I had just seen. The Austrian couple had been showing up each day for the last three days waiting for their hearing. They had contacted their Embassy in Santo doming and expected to be representative with a lawyer by the next morning…as they had a flight out from Bavaro on the coming Monday.
By this time the day is over and go home wondering what the hell happened to us. I play the days event back in my mind…all day police are telling me no problem, even the prosecutor tells me no problem. Then I ask myself if there is no problem then why do they have my passport and I’m going to court tomorrow and not the motorcyclist? I have worked ten years in third world counties and my sense tells me “Problem.”
I say to my wife, “we need help here. Something is going on other than a traffic accident.”
Fortunately one of wife’s nights out she has met a lawyer socially who had very impressive credentials who had impressed my wife very much.
We arrange to meet Marie at the court house at 08:30 the next morning. We chat with Austrian couple while Marie and the insurance companies lawyer hang about to see what the day’s proceedings are going to be, and the order that they have scheduled.
Marie comes back to me and says she has overheard the prosecutor and Daisy talking, Daisy wants a criminal case and 700,000 to 1 million peso bail requested ($28,000 CDN). Marie does not know what is going on, she suggests I get sick and go to her office. At this point I was ahead of her, I was already sick.
My wife stays and told the court I was sick and they would have to postpone. This was Friday and they postponed until Tuesday because Monday was a holiday. While my wife waits at the court for me to get called…again only Expats there at the court, She finds out that the Austrian couple with the help of their embassy and the rental car insurance company have come to a settlement in the case of the Motochoncho driver with the feigned injury. He will sign off for 4000 pesos. The insurance company agrees but because of it being Friday and Monday is a holiday he will not receive the money until Tuesday. He will not sign off until he receives the money. The Austrian Couple have to split up, she will make their flight, and he will stay behind, costing him another airfare.
My wife also then learns that Daisy (The lawyer after us) had successfully extorted 700,000 pesos from a French tourist a couple weeks before on behalf of another Motochoncho driver. Among Motochoncho drivers, Daisy is a legend, a Rock Star. Just hit a tourist that has a dead line to leave the Country and you can manipulate the court system to extort money from him or her. A Motochoncho driver can make more from one accident than he can in his lifetime even after Daisy’s 50% split.
Wow, this is turning into a very sophisticated racket. Starting by a heads up from the police, through the lawyer, all the way up to—and including the prosecutor. The prosecutor—by asking for astronomical bail—tells the Lawyer the amount of money available for the extortion.
What to do now?
After dissecting the process and events we realize this extortion will only work on tourists that has hard deadlines. If person has the time to remain in the country, go through the trial, the courts would eventually dismiss the case. Everyone is aware of this now, including us.
What now? Just do not show up for court was suggested and wait Daisy out. What will happen to me? It seems nothing: By not showing up at court I cannot be convicted of anything. If I’m not convicted then I’m not wanted for anything. Wrap you head around that.
Now I know why there were no Dominicans at the court. They have had this figured out long ago. They just hide out until things blow over.
All through this process I was constantly reassured at every stage this all was a formality, I did nothing wrong It was obviously the Motochoncho’s fault. The police report said so, the original meeting with the prosecutor said so. “Just show up for court and all will go away.” The Trap has been baited.
If it was not for my wife, her friend Carmen, and my very good lawyer sussing things out, I would have walked right into the trap. I had to return to work in a few days and not leaving the Island would have put my job in jeopardy. In that position, I would have also been exposed to paying the extortion asked.
I was fortunate that I carry two passports. I had read on the local blogs in this case many people advise leave the Island immediately. (Very Good Advice)
Here, some people will argue at this point that if you have premium insurance this cannot happen. Our insurance company says this should not happen, there was no fault on their insurance. I will say this would not happen on a level playing field, but here it can happen. Unless you are insured against extortion!
Remember the Austrian couple that had Avis rent a car with premium insurance, the insurance company’s lawyer and a representative from the Austrian embassy. The timing was still manipulated so the extortion was paid. He also had to pay for an additional flight home.
This is no longer about an accident or who is right or wrong, this is about “time”…and most tourists have more money than time. They have flights to catch and jobs to return to. They will pay.
I left a power of Attorney with my lawyer to allowing her to represent me and settle this matter however she saw fit. Then with the assistance of an attractive and talented “Coyote” (my wife), I left the Island to continue with my job. I did need to have a settlement for the following reasons: I wanted my passport back, I plan to return to the D.R. next year. I did not want the animosity of the Motochoncho driver’s family and I also did not want to see the Kid indebted to the Motochoncho mafia for a motorcycle he no longer owned.
Tuesday I did not show up for the hearing, my lawyer explained I was still ill and she had a power of attorney to represent me. The case was put off for three mores days. Daisy contacted my lawyer and said she could settle it for 500,000 pesos to her client and $5000 dollars to her. My lawyer told her that I was ill and in no hurry to settle. This went on for three weeks! Daisy shows up for court, I was not there and the case was put off again. (Daisy has to show up at every court date…if she does not, my lawyer will ask for a dismissal. If both parties are no longer interested that is usually granted to clear up the courts time.
The fourth week, Daisy is finally getting the hint, I’m not playing by the rules, I‘m not going to show up for court. Daisy now says she can settle now for $5000 for her and $5000 for her client. My Lawyer tells Daisy we are in no hurry to settle and I had only left 60,000 pesos to cover all costs. My lawyer says that she will be paid first from that amount. The more time Daisy wastes the less money there is for her and her client (the motoconcho).
It is not possible that the motoconcho has expenses greater than that. The insurance company’s lawyer tells Daisy that she will have to sue us if she wants money, and they all know that will not happen because she would lose because her client hit me (we even have a video of the accident).
Our lawyer tells Daisy if there are expenses please bring in the receipts. We paid the doctor bill and our investigator tells us the Motochoncho driver did not attend any other hospitable. He is at home hiding from the owner of the motorcycle he had wrecked. Other than Daisy’s time we cannot fathom any expenses. Other than the damage to the car.
They signed off on this for 50,000 pesos May 7, 2015. My Passport should be on its way to me. Daisy has all Motochoncho drivers signed up as clients and Medical injury declaration all prepared and if they are not injured they are to feign an injury. She is now running for Cabarete town council with support of Motochoncho drivers.
Charges dismissed June 2 by court Prosecutor Dilsia Taveras was directed to return my passport.
It starts on a Thursday, Feb 26, 2015 when an unlicensed Dominican driving an unlicensed uninsured motorcycle rear ends an insured car driven by licensed expat driver making a legal left turn. In the car with me were my wife, daughter and 2 year old grandson.
The motorcycle driver is taken to the medical clinic next to the police station treated for cut and bruises and leaves without paying the bill. The police are called and the expat tourist accompanies them to the police station. The police investigate and tell the expat no problem, fairly straight forward obviously the motorcycles fault. Reports are being taken and signed off on. The report took about 4 hrs. (Just enough time for a local lawyer to produce a piece of official looking piece of paper with a lot of stamps on it.)
The Local lawyers have an arrangement with some police and they get tipped off when these things occur (Ambulance chasers. happens all over.) A local lawyer (we will call her Daisy) produces an affidavit stating that the motorcyclist was injured and was transported to the Puerto Plata hospital. This was not the case but was unknown at the time. This triggers a process (because of the erroneous reporting severity of the injury) where the police report and the Expat tourist has to travel to Sosua to be interviewed by the prosecutor.
No problem off we go with the policeman and a report that says it is the other person fault. In the meantime friends and my wife contact the Doctor at the clinic where the Motorcyclist was taken to check on his condition. Turns out he was not too badly hurt, and got up and walked out with paying his bill. No problem. We pay the bill and get a signed statement from the doctor stating the fellow left on his own power, bruised, but not badly hurt. We also stop by a local shop where the accident occurred. And recover a video of the accident from their security cameras.
Later we are now all in Sosua and the local lawyer (Daisy) presents her case to the local Prosecutor, Dilsia Taveras. The prosecutor ignores the police report and does not want to see the Video or the statement from the Doctor who treated the injured motorcyclist. She was only interested in where I stayed, if I was a Tourist, and when my flight out was booked for. She says there is no problem, but there is enough evidence of an injury that a hearing is required. She collects my passport and tells me to return tomorrow morning at 09:00 hrs. For the hearing. (Come into my web says the spider to the Fly). I was assured the judge at the hearing will dismiss the case.
During the time we were present at the court house my wife is observing the goings on. It occurs to her there are only Expats here, no Dominicans. It seems that only Expats break the law. We meet an Austrian couple staying at Perla Marina that had driven up from Bavaro three days before and planned to drive back the following day. Their door was side-swiped by a motochoncho driver, he had asked for money, they refused as in the rest of the free world, it would have been his fault and there was no damage to either vehicle. The Motochoncho driver feigned an injury, showed up with a lawyer, and off they went to the see the same prosecutor that I had just seen. The Austrian couple had been showing up each day for the last three days waiting for their hearing. They had contacted their Embassy in Santo doming and expected to be representative with a lawyer by the next morning…as they had a flight out from Bavaro on the coming Monday.
By this time the day is over and go home wondering what the hell happened to us. I play the days event back in my mind…all day police are telling me no problem, even the prosecutor tells me no problem. Then I ask myself if there is no problem then why do they have my passport and I’m going to court tomorrow and not the motorcyclist? I have worked ten years in third world counties and my sense tells me “Problem.”
I say to my wife, “we need help here. Something is going on other than a traffic accident.”
Fortunately one of wife’s nights out she has met a lawyer socially who had very impressive credentials who had impressed my wife very much.
We arrange to meet Marie at the court house at 08:30 the next morning. We chat with Austrian couple while Marie and the insurance companies lawyer hang about to see what the day’s proceedings are going to be, and the order that they have scheduled.
Marie comes back to me and says she has overheard the prosecutor and Daisy talking, Daisy wants a criminal case and 700,000 to 1 million peso bail requested ($28,000 CDN). Marie does not know what is going on, she suggests I get sick and go to her office. At this point I was ahead of her, I was already sick.
My wife stays and told the court I was sick and they would have to postpone. This was Friday and they postponed until Tuesday because Monday was a holiday. While my wife waits at the court for me to get called…again only Expats there at the court, She finds out that the Austrian couple with the help of their embassy and the rental car insurance company have come to a settlement in the case of the Motochoncho driver with the feigned injury. He will sign off for 4000 pesos. The insurance company agrees but because of it being Friday and Monday is a holiday he will not receive the money until Tuesday. He will not sign off until he receives the money. The Austrian Couple have to split up, she will make their flight, and he will stay behind, costing him another airfare.
My wife also then learns that Daisy (The lawyer after us) had successfully extorted 700,000 pesos from a French tourist a couple weeks before on behalf of another Motochoncho driver. Among Motochoncho drivers, Daisy is a legend, a Rock Star. Just hit a tourist that has a dead line to leave the Country and you can manipulate the court system to extort money from him or her. A Motochoncho driver can make more from one accident than he can in his lifetime even after Daisy’s 50% split.
Wow, this is turning into a very sophisticated racket. Starting by a heads up from the police, through the lawyer, all the way up to—and including the prosecutor. The prosecutor—by asking for astronomical bail—tells the Lawyer the amount of money available for the extortion.
What to do now?
After dissecting the process and events we realize this extortion will only work on tourists that has hard deadlines. If person has the time to remain in the country, go through the trial, the courts would eventually dismiss the case. Everyone is aware of this now, including us.
What now? Just do not show up for court was suggested and wait Daisy out. What will happen to me? It seems nothing: By not showing up at court I cannot be convicted of anything. If I’m not convicted then I’m not wanted for anything. Wrap you head around that.
Now I know why there were no Dominicans at the court. They have had this figured out long ago. They just hide out until things blow over.
All through this process I was constantly reassured at every stage this all was a formality, I did nothing wrong It was obviously the Motochoncho’s fault. The police report said so, the original meeting with the prosecutor said so. “Just show up for court and all will go away.” The Trap has been baited.
If it was not for my wife, her friend Carmen, and my very good lawyer sussing things out, I would have walked right into the trap. I had to return to work in a few days and not leaving the Island would have put my job in jeopardy. In that position, I would have also been exposed to paying the extortion asked.
I was fortunate that I carry two passports. I had read on the local blogs in this case many people advise leave the Island immediately. (Very Good Advice)
Here, some people will argue at this point that if you have premium insurance this cannot happen. Our insurance company says this should not happen, there was no fault on their insurance. I will say this would not happen on a level playing field, but here it can happen. Unless you are insured against extortion!
Remember the Austrian couple that had Avis rent a car with premium insurance, the insurance company’s lawyer and a representative from the Austrian embassy. The timing was still manipulated so the extortion was paid. He also had to pay for an additional flight home.
This is no longer about an accident or who is right or wrong, this is about “time”…and most tourists have more money than time. They have flights to catch and jobs to return to. They will pay.
I left a power of Attorney with my lawyer to allowing her to represent me and settle this matter however she saw fit. Then with the assistance of an attractive and talented “Coyote” (my wife), I left the Island to continue with my job. I did need to have a settlement for the following reasons: I wanted my passport back, I plan to return to the D.R. next year. I did not want the animosity of the Motochoncho driver’s family and I also did not want to see the Kid indebted to the Motochoncho mafia for a motorcycle he no longer owned.
Tuesday I did not show up for the hearing, my lawyer explained I was still ill and she had a power of attorney to represent me. The case was put off for three mores days. Daisy contacted my lawyer and said she could settle it for 500,000 pesos to her client and $5000 dollars to her. My lawyer told her that I was ill and in no hurry to settle. This went on for three weeks! Daisy shows up for court, I was not there and the case was put off again. (Daisy has to show up at every court date…if she does not, my lawyer will ask for a dismissal. If both parties are no longer interested that is usually granted to clear up the courts time.
The fourth week, Daisy is finally getting the hint, I’m not playing by the rules, I‘m not going to show up for court. Daisy now says she can settle now for $5000 for her and $5000 for her client. My Lawyer tells Daisy we are in no hurry to settle and I had only left 60,000 pesos to cover all costs. My lawyer says that she will be paid first from that amount. The more time Daisy wastes the less money there is for her and her client (the motoconcho).
It is not possible that the motoconcho has expenses greater than that. The insurance company’s lawyer tells Daisy that she will have to sue us if she wants money, and they all know that will not happen because she would lose because her client hit me (we even have a video of the accident).
Our lawyer tells Daisy if there are expenses please bring in the receipts. We paid the doctor bill and our investigator tells us the Motochoncho driver did not attend any other hospitable. He is at home hiding from the owner of the motorcycle he had wrecked. Other than Daisy’s time we cannot fathom any expenses. Other than the damage to the car.
They signed off on this for 50,000 pesos May 7, 2015. My Passport should be on its way to me. Daisy has all Motochoncho drivers signed up as clients and Medical injury declaration all prepared and if they are not injured they are to feign an injury. She is now running for Cabarete town council with support of Motochoncho drivers.
Charges dismissed June 2 by court Prosecutor Dilsia Taveras was directed to return my passport.
This happens to Dominicans too. Our Dominican niece was driving in SD through an intersection with a green light - a motorcycle ran through a red light and hit her broadside. Unbelievable, but her insurance company not only paid his medical expenses, he got a million pesos too.
Hilarious.......
How scams like this evolve.....
My guess is that it started years ago in the United States
A relative or friend that lived in the States found out what was going on
with the insurance companies here, and how willing they were to PAY OUT instead of going
to trial.......
They just tweaked it......the tourists become the insurance companies!
The whole tourist thingy and of course FEAR just magnifies everything......
Hence......
Someone is fuc-ing paying somebody
(Usually some idiot tourist)
Been around for years.......
It works
Not as easy as it once was.......
But still effective
Sorry but you need to learn how to write in a CONCISE form. I have tried to read your mile-long story and still have no idea what the ACTUAL FACTS of your case are.
You mix events (something that actually happened), with your thoughts, conjetures, conversations, other cases, hearsay, more hearsay, more conjetures based on hearsay, etc., etc.,
You should post WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO YOU. Not like writing a novel. Like writing a NEWS article (answering the questions WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN , WHY, HOW?, etc, etc.).
Here is a tutorial by the BBC.
Virgo...Virgo...Virgo......
First of all, Frank12 didn't write it, someone named Frank Wilman did.
Secondly, this is not a Creative Writing thread and you are not the professor.
Thirdly, Frank12 is the author of several books.
And finally, Frank12 is Dominican, lives there, tells very funny stories about his experiences. He's kind of our unofficial mascot, so tread carefully.
He explicitly asked me to comment (as did others), and I tried to follow that "short novel" and couldn't get clearly the FACTS of the case. I cannot comment on something I cannot understand, hence my suggestion.
I have no idea if this Frank and the Frank that apparently wrote the story are the same. It seems to be a reasonable assumption since this Frank did not indicate that the story had been written by a different Frank.
I also have no idea who is Dominican here since I am unable to check official ID's. As I have indicated before, it is well-known that in Internet boards posters often purport to be who they aren't, for various reasons. Also, not every person with some Dominican descend (if that is the case) is actually (legally, culturally, and sentimentally) a Dominican (it depends on the person).
P.S. By the way, why is the lengthy story "on topic" in the thread about the Oregon couple? Besides involving a motorcycle, there are vast differences between both situations, including the fact than there was a fatality in the other case.