Partying??? Beware of this scam...

[Dawson]

I had a bad experience when I went out this weekend. I was enjoying myself a lot and my friend and I went to a hotel bar (local, not an international chain). Anyway, a couple ladies joined us and so I bought them a drink. Well, they ended up buying tons of really expensive drinks and passing them to all their friends. I was left with an INSANE bar tab that I had to pay because technically they were with me. I came to find out that this is a scam where ladies at the bar will look for westerners or anyone who they think has change in their pocket and they'll do that scam. The bar ends up with tons of money and I'm sure they get a cut. I'm quite sure this happens everywhere not just in my neck of the woods so have fun, ., and let your hair down, but pay in cash and do NOT have an open tab. Sadly I learned that lesson the hard way. FYI - the chain hotels and fancy places don't do this, it's just some of the local establishments.

[Dawson]

By the way, having overindulged I had no idea they were doing this and of course they won't ask if that's okay. That's of course their perfect target.

[SpedMaestro]

Hah...no scam involved buddy. Women do this in every country. Its why I threw chivalry out the window. Buy them the cheapest beer on tap and if they dont like it, move on.

[datsyukian]

Not a scam buddy, you just got played. Can't hustle a hustler...

[WonderingWhat]

That is a scam that happens all over the world. Sometimes it's someone who approaches you in the street and asks if you want to go for a beer. In you go and sit down and beautiful women sit beside and order overpriced drinks. I've heard of this happening everywhere.

[Dawson]

datsyukian wrote:
> Not a scam buddy, you just got played. Can't hustle a hustler...
Yup, that's for sure. I woke up with a headache and no money. Well lesson learned. No more buying drinks - lol.

[Briz]

Try saying no. It often goes over pretty badly. It is almost better to leave, or pay cash and be sure the barkeep understands, ONLY ONE. SE Asia, you learn quickly!

[Rye]

I worked at a bar as a barback and as a bouncer in my early days of teaching. It was a well-to-do town and a decent bar, but in the 5 years I was there I saw this happen a few times:

A girl would talk to a guy, get him to order her a drink, and then ask the bartender for a round of bombs ($8-$9 each) for her friends that "just happened to show up." Down the shot and boom, out the door without a word to the next bar. Guy is usually so afraid of saying no to the girls, or is confused so they just sit there. A girl and 5-6 of her friends could rack up $60 in just a few seconds. I couldn't blame the bartender (who got screwed on the tip from the pissed off guy) because when it is busy you don't have the time to notice this going on, you just pour. At a slower place I would bet the bartender gets a piece of the action because they would have to be in on it or monumentally ignorant.

[WonderingWhat]

I think this guy is talking about a different scam. The girls are already there in the bar and always there. They sit down at your table and order either glasses or cheap champagne or even beer. The bill arrives and it's $50 a beer or glass of whatever, and $60 for a bowl of peanuts. Sometimes even they bring the menu showing those prices. The bill arrives with 6 burly waiters. The whole bar is in on it including the guy who brought you there off the street. I've heard of people getting stung for $3000 or more. Actually this was an episode of Scam City. This happens all over the Middle East and Asia.

[Dawson]

WonderingWhat wrote:
> I think this guy is talking about a different scam. The girls are already
> there in the bar and always there. They sit down at your table and order
> either glasses or cheap champagne or even beer. The bill arrives and it's
> $50 a beer or glass of whatever, and $60 for a bowl of peanuts. Sometimes
> even they bring the menu showing those prices. The bill arrives with 6
> burly waiters. The whole bar is in on it including the guy who brought you
> there off the street. I've heard of people getting stung for $3000 or more.
> Actually this was an episode of Scam City. This happens all over the Middle
> East and Asia.

Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Thanks. Everyone else didn't really seem to get it. I was the only Westerner there, got taken there by my "friend" (never would have gone there on my own), then the bill comes and it's this outrageous amount (exactly as you described it was twenty dinar - over $50 for cheap beer and some vodka shots). Just two security came to escort me to the ATM though. It was apparent, even in my stupor, that you will pay this or we'll make trouble for you. Well, glad I'm not the only naïve one out there. They only got me for $1000. Shaking my head.

[EUExplorer]

This scam has been happening in Eastern/Central European cities like Prague, Bucharest, Budapest, etc. for decades.

[Diamond35]

What you experienced is "bait and switch".

Women have been doing this to men for 1000s of years. This is the formula:
- females create a social system where men feel the need to give gifts to females, in the *hope* of gaining sexual access
- a man meets a woman, and buys a gift (in your case, a drink at a bar)
- the woman extracts more and more out of the man, catering to the *hope* that he will gain sexual access
- she lures him into a slave contract (today know as marriage) where the man is obligated to support her

Men. Wake up and smell the coffee!

[SpedMaestro]

Diamond35 wrote:
> What you experienced is "bait and switch".
>
> Women have been doing this to men for 1000s of years. This is the formula:
> - females create a social system where men feel the need to give gifts to
> females, in the *hope* of gaining sexual access
> - a man meets a woman, and buys a gift (in your case, a drink at a bar)
> - the woman extracts more and more out of the man, catering to the *hope*
> that he will gain sexual access
> - she lures him into a slave contract (today know as marriage) where the
> man is obligated to support her
>
> Men. Wake up and smell the coffee!


This is why I will always be amongst the noble ranks of bachelors. Marriage is a bad investment.