New Scam: Anna Marie Velasco

“An angel crying for help.”

Wow, what a tag line! This SMS scammer should have been a copywriter for the advertising industry. It pinches the heart, doesn’t it? Then again, beware!

I received this text (in Fiipino) through my Globe number last January 25, 2010:

“Pued po b akong humingi ng 2long sa inyo? I’m marie, 21yo fresh grad po from Bacolod City. Gagawin ko po ang lahat ng kapalit na gusto nio, ma2lungan nio lng po akong makapunta sa mynila.My job hiring n asana po kc ako jan sa san mig-ortigas, syang po kc kung madissolve lng..Im willing to take the risks ng kpalit na hhngin nio. Un nlng tlga pgasa ko na mkluwas kgd pra mhbol deadline ko po. My pic & supporting docs po ako sa http://www.mariebacolod.tk – marie”


In my terms, it was “tagos sa puso.” I worked for San Miguel before and was sure this was indeed a great opportunity for new grads. If you had the money to give for fare for the sake of charity, why not? Forget the part “she’ll do anything in exchange” as it is so un-Christian. So I checked her site and read it. I researched on the web and alarm bells already sounded. It was a scam.

A few days later, this is the text I got:

Name: Marie Velasco
Age: 21
Birthdate: Feb 21, 1987
Height: 5'7"
Complexion: Fair
Vital Stats: 35-25-36
Hair: Long and straight
Other: joined some provincial pageants for allowance
Course: BS Information Management (Computer and Accountancy)
School: DOST Scholar in University of St. La Salle – Bacolod
Parents: Anna and Mario Velasco (both deceased)
Picture: www.mariebacolod.tk

So I just played along and texted back and asked how I could help and this was “her” initial reply:

“My deadline na po sana kasi ako dis coming Feb 1 po.. 9am sa San Miguel ITServices department pos a ortigas. Junior IT Specialist po ung position na inaapplayan ko.. Sayang po tlga kc dhl related sa course ko.. Final briefing nlang po sana..”

Then I asked how much money was needed for fare, “her” reply was:

“Depende po kung saan nio ko pasasakayin.. Barko o eroplano po? Ung boat fare sa superferry is 2,350 po with 4 trips per week. Monday, wed, fri and Sunday po. While ung plane po is 3,268 with 3 flights EVERYDAY po”

By this time, it was obvious that this scammer has cut-and-paste answers. The actual fares were really cheap. The deadline was supposedly February 1 so the option of taking the boat was out of the question as it will take 2-3 days to get to Manila from Bacolod City. Besides, the fact that it takes the texter between 12 to 24 hours to respond means that “she” is not really that desperate and changes SIM cards, the one being used to scam not a permanent one.

Here are the websites the scammer built for a tinge of legitimacy:

www.marievelasco.tk
www.mariebacolod.tk
www.avelasco.cjb.net



This text scam dates back to June 2008 from the first time a blog about it was posted and many other earlier posts on the subject. It has been active the whole of 2009 till this year as per my personal account.

Be careful out there my good-hearted friends. Wolves abound.

-Homer

Some links to other posts on the Anna Marie Velasco Text Scam:

http://makeuseoftime.blogspot.com/2009/03/annamarie-velasco.html
http://docmnel.com/2008/06/04/anna-marie-velasco-another-scam-in-the-making/comment-page-1/
http://menardconnect.com/2009/08/01/sms-scam-marie-velasco/comment-page-1/#comment-2417
http://kokoro15.multiply.com/journal/item/35
http://bluemaldita.livejournal.com/13298.html
http://blog.richardorlino.com/2009/12/the-anna-marie-velasco-scam/
http://www.filipinowriter.com/marie-velasco-mag-ingat-sa-manlolokong-ito
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If You Only Knew

You have crossed my mind a dozen times today
You who can make my day.
It’s an unexplainable kind of thrill;
The way you make me feel.
If you only knew how short life really is
Would you still live the way you do?
For those who have lived and seen time go
There can never be second chances;
Just decisions to love, hold or let go.
Oh my heart aches so much to realize
That some things shall never be
Though somehow wishing they can still come true
It’s like living, breathing just for you.
I pushed you back because I knew
You deserved someone better, someone new.
But now I try to hide the pain;
It’s really hard that I try to hide in vain.
You only see the smiles and hear the laughter
But never see how crushed I am inside.
I missed my chance when I deliberately lied
Telling you I didn’t want to be with you;
When in fact I cared so much and wanted to
But was careful I won’t be stealing you;
For I could not take your happiness away
That was meant to come your way.
So today in my heart I decide to let you go
Hoping maybe someday you will know;
That for simply being you
Someone was ready to fall in love with you.

(homer nievera)
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Kung Nasaan ang Puso

Minsan iniisip ko nasaan ako
Nangangarap lang ba o sadyang totoo
Naroon ka at nandito naman ako
Ngunit tila abot-kamay ang puso mo.

Nakakatuwa kasi ang iyong ngiti
Bungisngis palang ay nakakabighani
Ang dami naman d’yan kasing mapipili
Bakit pa nga ba ako nagbabakasakali?

Sa kuwentuhang walang pinatutunguhan
At kahit animo’y sinasadyang bolahan
Tila alamat na walang pinagmulan
Na alam nating may pinatutungkulan.

May koneksyon ba tayo sa isa’t isa,
O nabulag lamang sa silaw at kaba?
Heto at pilit ngang kinakapa-kapa
Kung saan ba talaga ‘to mapupunta.

Madalas kong ibulalas, “bahala na!”
Pero di naman madali ang “tara na!”
Kaya sa nais iukit ang tadhana,
Kinukumbinsi ang sariling wala na.

Kaya’t kahit saan man ako lumisan,
O ikaw na mismo ang magdadahilan,
Alamin ang sarling puso’y nasaan,
Tinitiyak kong ako ay naririyan.

(homer nievera)

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Obra Maestra

Simpleng haplos ng 'yong kamay
Ayos na agad ang lahat.
Matamis mong titig
At dampi ng matamis mong halik
Dulot ay di mapantayang kaligayahan.

Sa lubos na sigla na dulot mo sa buhay ko
Doon pa lang panalo na ako;
Paano pa kaya ang pagpipinta
Ng 'sandaang kulay na nagpapasigla
At pumupukaw sa dating tuyong damdamin?

Isang larawang obra maestra --
Ito marahil ang pag-ibig natin.
Likha ng Maestrong Pintor ng buhay
Di kayang pigilan ng bagyo't unos
Umiigting sa paglipas ng panahon.

Minsa'y iniisip ko kung paano na lang,
Kung di kita natagpuan?
Saan kaya pupulutin ang ligaya?
Sino ang magbibigay ng masasayang kulay
Kung wala ka sa 'king buhay?

Ngayo'y naniniwala akong magpapatuloy
Ang pagpipinta ng 'sang obra maestra
Dahil habang ika'y nasa piling ko
At ako'y di magbabago
Parang malaking obra ang ating mundo.

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Life Isn't by Chance

Purpose. This is what life is really all about.

If you haven't found yours yet, don't be so hard-pressed in finding what it is. It will come to you. Purpose in life is sought out or sorted out. It simply finds you wherever and in whatever state you are.

I was five years old when I had this sudden feeling of panic. I was so young then but when I gazed upon the setting sun through a window of our small Makati City apartment, it hit me -- "What am I here on earth for?"

The sun, so big and majestic on it's heavenly place, represented the mighty Creator. It seemed to look down upon me. I imagined the billions of people on earth who might have thought the same. The sun looking upon each and every being on earth. Amazing how God saw us on an individual basis!

If that was so, would life unfold just by chance? Could we really do anything and not be noticed? Not a chance for sure!

Everyone and everything that we do MUST have a purpose. Even the people we meet and make part of our lives have a reason.

There are no mistakes in life. They normally are planned bumps on life's road or in many instances, detours. Happy victories are not because of our individual circumstances or by coincidence. They are part of the plan. You see, if you believe in a Supreme Being who has created each and every cell in your body, then you should wonder "for what purpose?" He has a plan -- an individual plan, that is.The only thing that will make things go "wrong" is when we defy "the plan."

I have always believed that the most important thing created in us is the heart. This is where the "will" resides. The "will" is both God's will and our own that drives us to our direction. I believe that God's plan and timing are ALWAYS PERFECT. Nothing He does will be by accident. So we are definitely not here by accident. We just need to examine our heart more to know of our purpose. Remember, God resides in and speaks through the heart. Listen.

Our conscience is our compass. It is not connected to our brain but is wired to our heart. It works on a database of experiences and learnings. Thus, if we just meditate and pray for wisdom and discernment, we will definitely know where and when to go. As timing is also crucial, this bit has to be specifically prayed for as well.Just remember that prayers are always answered. We just have to accept the answer even if we don't agree with it.

Choices. Why are we always faced with crossroads? This is the exciting part of life. This is also a gift that God has given us. We are free to choose what door to open or what road to take. Scared to choose which door to open or which road to take? Pray. Listen to your heart. Besides, even the angels had their choices, right? One chose to be king and above the Creator and was given the key to hell.He should have stayed loyal to His Creator instead.

So life which resides in all of us isn't by chance. Let's not wait till we're in mid-life to ask ourselves "where to?" but instead always pray and seek your heart on "where to now?"
It's the "now" that's really important. Yesterday ended last night and tomorrow may never come.

Throw the dice away. You don't need it.

That Joy You Bring

Joy is the word I would describe
The way I feel about you.
It might be because of your charm
That accompanies your smile,
Or the way you do your hair
That captures me to a constant gaze.

You astonish me with your wisdom;
And the strength of your soul
Encompasses my world,
As nothing in me and within me
Escapes the aura of stillness and calm
That you bring into my life.

I am enchanted by your inner being.
Happiness rules your life.
Your faith and will are impregnable.
Your naive but complete honesty
Betrays the innocence of your heart.
There lies the strength of your character.

Tomorrow may bring sadness,
But surely it will never overcome
The joy you continue to bring into me
Tomorrow may bring sadness,
But surely it will never overcome
The joy you continue to bring into me
For there will always be more days
Of sunshine than rain
Knowing you’ll always be around.

(a poem I gave my wife Jinky for our anniversary in 2006)

Pagiging Tuso Papuntang Langit

Luke 16: 1-8

“...Pinuri ng panginoon ang mandarayang katiwala dahil sa katalinuhang ipinamalas nito. Sapagkat ang mga makasanlibutan ay mas mahusay gumawa ng paraan kaysa mga maka-Diyos.”

May isang Hapon na nakakaalam ng “Yamashita Treasure,” ang pumuntang Maynila upang ito ay makuha. Sa kasamaang palad, may mga masasamang loob ang nakatunton sa kanya at pinagbantaan siyang papatayin kung hindi niya sasabihin kung nasaan ang kayamanan. Dahil hindi naman sila marunong mag Niponggo, kumuha sila ng tagapag-salin o interpreter na Pinoy.

“Sabihin mo sa Hapong iyan, kapag hindi niya sinabi sa amin kung saan nakatago ang Yamashita treasure, papatayin namin siya!” sabi ng mga lalaki. At ito rin naman ang sinabi ng interpreter sa Hapon sa salitang Niponggo.

Sa salitang Niponggo, nagsumamo ang Hapon na huwag siyang patayin. Sasabihin na niya kung nasaan ang kayamanan. Sa salitang Hapon, sinabi niya na ang kayamanan ay nasa likod ng simbahan ng Malate sa Maynila, limang hakbang mula sa pinto ng Sacristy. Anim na talampakan ang huhukayin upang ito’y makuha.

Ang sabi naman ng Pinoy na interpreter sa mga lalaki, “Pinasasabi po ng Hapong ito na matapang siya. Handa raw siyang mamatay!”

Kung pera ang pinag-uusapan, maaari tayong maging tuso. Bakit kaya sa mga bagay na ukol sa ating kaligtasan, tila hindi tayo tuso?

Hindi naman itinataas ni Hesus ang sinungaling na katiwala sa ating nabasa sa Lukas 16, kung hindi sa kanyang pagiging tuso. Hindi Niya sinasabing maging sinungaling tayo. Naghahanap Siya ng lubos na katusuhan o galing upang tayo’y makapunta sa Langit.

(Isinalin mula kay Fr. Bobby Titco)

Pagnilayan:

Sa anong paraan natin magagamit ang ating talino upang makarating sa Langit?