Almost scammed in KL....almost....

Crazy story, crazy. So I'm in KL, got here in the afternoon, travelled most of the day. Looking for a camera for hours, getting low prices etc. Finally bought one, came outside and a guy started talking to me. He was about my age, maybe a few years older. He was with a girl, who was his "niece", maybe about 20. Asked where I was from, when he found out Canada he said his niece was trying to apply for a work visa to be a nurse there. She said her mom was for her moving, but her grandma was against it. He asked if he could buy me a coffee and ask about Canada, sure....why not? After a while we were getting to know each other, he asked if I would come to his place and have dinner, to meet his family and tell this girls grandma about Canada. Instantly I felt a weird gut feeling to decline, but then I reasoned it thinking that all the times I've agreed to go to someones home here in Asia it's turned out to be an amazing experience! So off we went, in a cab.

Got to the home, instantly the dad of the girl started talking to me. I talked to him for a while, found out he worked on a cruise ship in Asia as a card dealer, blackjack. When I was done eating he wanted to show me some card stuff in the kitchen, where we went and another woman followed....not sure how she was related. So he starts telling me on how we can form a team and scam the ship. I was obviously not interested but entertaining him and seeing his little tricks. Then he starts telling me about a guy from Brunei, can't remember his name but it was something like Mr. Mustafa. He told me how with his help Mr. Mustafa made $30kUS one night and was supposed to pay him 5%, $1500. Mr. Mustafa only paid him $400 and said that was good money. Then he said that Mr. Mustafa wants to take him out to dinner, but he would decline because Mr. Mustafa shorted him. Then it all happened so fast. The "dad" pulled out 2-$100 US bills and placed them in front of me, then said something like if someone came in to pretend the $$ is mine cuz he didn't want them to think they were his. All of a sudden the "dad's" wife came into the kitchen saying that his guest was here....all of a sudden a big dude wearing gold rings, chains, and watch came in. The dad said hello to Mr. Mustafa and Mr. Mustafa asked if he was ready to go for dinner. The dad declined as he'd previoulsy mentioned he would do in such a circumstance. Then somehow Mr. Mustafa sat down across from me to play cards and the dad was the dealer, I think the dad mentioned this briefly Right before Mr. M got there saying he wanted me help to scam Mr. M.

Everything inside of me knew I was in the middle of a rehearsed scam....how could I be so naive??? I instantly got up and said I needed to go and made me way to the door despite their avid protests. I came out of the kitchen and everyone knew I was not happy, they gave me a ride to a train station. I look back on it and see how the whole thing was set up from the beginning.....

I should have recognized my gut feeling from the getgo and not relied on previous experience and my rationalizing. I'm lucky the scam went only as far as this team trying to trick me out of my $$.....in reality I was alone in this team's home where the scam could've turned physical. I think this scam goes further as well, the "uncle", the guy from the beginning kept asking me to come out with him and experience KL nightlife, which I declined. I'm sure knockout pills are administered at this stage.

When I arrived back at my hostel I started telling the owner about my night, he said he should've warned me but forgot....that scam has been going on in this area for llloooonnngggg time, he thought they'd been shut down by now, and that they have been known to use knockout pills. Foolish, foolish, foolish. Ya live, ya learn.



I had an awesome time surfing in Cherating, such an amazing place. One morning the waves were so amazing it looked like a surf movie!! I'm sleeping in the airport on Christmas eve, catching a plane to Langkawi early Christmas morning.


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!