MANILA, Philippines - Never trust strangers.
A German woman learned this lesson after losing P280,000 withdrawn from her bank and credit cards by four women who had befriended her and tagged her along on a trip up north.
In her report to the German embassy, the victim, who came to the country alone, said two women, identifying themselves as Emma and Veronica, approached her while she was looking for a travel guide in a bookstore in Malate, Manila last Jan. 30.
The two women, who she thought were friendly and helpful, invited her to join them on a trip to Alaminos, Pangasinan and Baguio City.
Two other women, a certain Joy and Hanna, joined them at the Pasay City bus station the next day. During their entire trip, the victim recalled feeling extremely dizzy and drained which she merely blamed on the weather conditions.
On Feb. 3, they checked in at Pines Hotel in Baguio. The four women left her alone claiming they would look for a cheaper hotel but the next day they were gone.
The victim continued her trip to Sagada, Mt. Province and there discovered that her bank and credit cards were used on Feb. 1-3. Transaction records showed that her cards were used 28 times at the ATM outlets of two banks in Alaminos, with a total of P280,000 plus transaction fees withdrawn.