Canadians scammed in Punta Cana???

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Jasper

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Jan 10, 2002
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pretty bizarre story. anybody hear about this? if it was a scam, then these guys should be put in jail for a few days and made to cough up the money. they need to be made an example of and couple needs an official apology from tourism minister. too much at stake. i heard this along with hundreds of thousands of others on the radio this am. no doubt will be on national news in canada tonite.

by the way, option on link to listen to news account.

Couple files complaint after ordeal at Dominican resort
 

Rocky

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pretty bizarre story. anybody hear about this? if it was a scam, then these guys should be put in jail for a few days and made to cough up the money. they need to be made an example of and couple needs an official apology from tourism minister. too much at stake. i heard this along with hundreds of thousands of others on the radio this am. no doubt will be on national news in canada tonite.

by the way, option on link to listen to news account.

Couple files complaint after ordeal at Dominican resort
We've been discussing this story on another forum, and the general concensus is that there is more to the story than what is being told.
It just doesn't add up right.
Too many details that don't make sense.
I'm sure something happened and a lot of the details may be true, but it just can't be exactly as they are telling it.
 
G

gary short

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Your right Rocky...They're probably two evil schemeing scamers from Goose Bay Lab. Why just look at how EVIL they appear.....you can always tell...the eyes give it away........something tells me we haven't seen the last of those two...
 

Rocky

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Your right Rocky...They're probably two evil schemeing scamers from Goose Bay Lab. Why just look at how EVIL they appear.....you can always tell...the eyes give it away........something tells me we haven't seen the last of those two...
I never said or thought they were scammers.
I said I believe that the story is not entirely true.
It makes no sense, as it is told.
 
some strange issues?

clipped from the press "Meanwhile, their Name changed asked their bank to put a stop on the $1,000 advance on their Visa card."

Now I know how to put a Visa stop or reversal on payments for items or services not delivered....but

I have to find out how a cash advance can be stopped???, get the money in my hands then stop the Visa advance???
 

MommC

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Mar 2, 2002
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Still can't edit quick reply posts so I'll reiterate what I tried to add.....

After reading carefully the CBC story it appears they're asking for a cash advance to be cancelled - not likely to happen! However the Visa company may take 'pity' on them and refund them.

Gotta agree with Rocky that something doesn't add up in their story.

Why not call the 'tour rep' or the embassy? Why not ask to speak to the manager of the resort? Why not ask the tour company to change resorts and file a complaint with the local authorities?

Yep - too many questions.......?????
 

Lambada

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If the Dominican businessman who complained of the theft was a person of influence it is entirely conceivable that the hotel staff flew around looking for scapegoats. Not saying this is what happened but it is possible.
 

Chirimoya

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Dec 9, 2002
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Maybe, but they would have picked on some poor innocent (or not, as the case might be) employee, who is least likely to kick up a fuss.
 

Rocky

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If the Dominican businessman who complained of the theft was a person of influence it is entirely conceivable that the hotel staff flew around looking for scapegoats. Not saying this is what happened but it is possible.
I believe something happened, but not the way it's being reported to us.
A cash advance of about $1,000 Cdn was put on Sinnott's card. He said the cash was then distributed to three men.
When, in all the years of living here, have you seen how a bribe gets divied up?
This is the presumed victim, recounting that he saw three men divy up the money amongst them.
Not friggin likely.
That type of stuff is done in private.

Later, Andrew Sinnott was taken back to his room at the resort ? which he said had been searched in the interim ? to get his Visa card.
If the room was searched, then one might assume that it was searched to recover the stolen goods. Had it been to rob them, there would be some mention of it. This lends a bit of credence to there having been an actual theft, and that it was not just some scam.

The men escorted the Sinnotts ? who had flown to the resort to attend the wedding of friends ? to the lobby
Where were the "wedding friends"? Why is there no mention of trying to contact them?
Wouldn't they be the first people to try to contact, assuming the story we read is true?
Wouldn't the accused want some moral support, assistance in translations, character references, if they were being falsely accused of a crime in a foreign country in a foreign language?

Dawn Sinnott, who began yelling for help.
You think you're in big trouble now?" Dawn Sinnott recalled a man identifying himself as an employee telling them. He then told them, she said, "You just disturbed the peace. I'm going to have you arrested.? You're going to prison forever.
So.... Stealing a cellphone and maybe some clothing, warrants a cash settlement, but disturbing the peace will have you in prison forever???
And who is this person who identifies himself as an employee, who speaks such good English that he knows the term, "disturbing the peace", let alone the concept, here in the land of loud music and loud noises?

They were so drunk, so drunk ? trust me," Soria said.
Normally, I wouldn't believe anyone telling a story, that includes the words, "trust me", but I'm inclined to believe that the couple were in fact skunk drunk.
If they were, then the whole story would make a lot more sense.
Some AI guests are hellbent on getting their money's worth of food & liquor, and Newfies are well known to have a propensity to drink enough liquor to kill a polar bear.

If you disbelieve one single part of the reported story, then it means they are lying.
If they can lie about one thing, they can lie about everything.
If anyone can get themselves to believe that the "scammers" divied the money up in front of the presumed victims, then I have a bridge to sell you.
 

snowqueen

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Dec 15, 2004
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Don't believe everything you read

I have had direct experience on a number of occassions with the media and they will misquote & exagerate to make an article sound better or more outrageous. I always take anything in the news with a grain of salt, and feel that the public will never know the entire, true story.
 

cobraboy

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Jul 24, 2004
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You get taken to a "jail" and you don't scream for Embassy help?

Hmmmmmm......
 

jruane44

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I have had direct experience on a number of occassions with the media and they will misquote & exagerate to make an article sound better or more outrageous. I always take anything in the news with a grain of salt, and feel that the public will never know the entire, true story.

I agree with you about the media . I have been misquoted on numerous occasions. But this story stinks to high heaven. Like all the previous posters have stated there is more to this story. There are definitely three sides to every story.
 

curlyq

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Mar 20, 2006
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How could they pass the front desk with these men without being noticed by another guest that something was unusual about the situation. Why did they not make a fuss and scream for help? I believe there are many missing links to this story. Were they just a likely couple to pick on for this so called scam?

curlyq
 

Gabriela

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Dec 4, 2003
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The CBC can be believed

Unlike the Dominican media, the Canadian media can be trusted to print factual information. Obviously, the hotel is in on the scam, and should be prosecuted. As for VISA, most of us know never to use it in certain countries. I consider VISA the primary tool for tourist theft (phones, etc).
 

Rocky

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Unlike the Dominican media, the Canadian media can be trusted to print factual information. Obviously, the hotel is in on the scam, and should be prosecuted. As for VISA, most of us know never to use it in certain countries. I consider VISA the primary tool for tourist theft (phones, etc).
They may have higher standards than the DR, but certainly not to be believed in all instances.
In this particular case, they are just reporting what the couple told them, so it could hardly be considered fact.
 

leekiv

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" Canadian media can be trusted"??

Canadian media prints the same as any other. Whatever sells! This whole story sounds to me like someone is looking to make some "sympathy" cash. I do not believe these people at all. Common sense tells me that all is not as it is being stated. As Rocky and others have pointed out why did they not contact the consulate/embassy or any of the people they where with?? When taken to jail in ANY country, (even your own), you contact someone. If they where intoxicated ( which I do believe), then perhaps they remember their story differently to what actually happened. As to who is telling the complete truth, well that is something I don't think will ever come out.
 

snowqueen

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Dec 15, 2004
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Trustworthy media?

That, is an oxymoron. I deal with the media in Canada, and believe me, they OFTEN get their facts wrong.

What was printed on this story does sound highly suspicious. And I think "the scam" could have happened either way. However, without knowing the entire story I would not cast stones at either party.
 
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