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05 June, 2006

Black magic

What is it with witch doctors in the sandlands? Barely a day goes by without reports of some trickster - usually African - duping gullible morons out of their cash. Today's victims are fifty-five sorry spinsters:

Around 55 women, of various Arab nationalities, each paid him Dh1,500 convinced that the man would help them meet and marry ‘Mr. Right’. But then it all went horribly wrong for all of them.

The accused also decieved many people by persuading them he had supernatural powers which enabled him to treat all kinds of illness, as well as help victims of voodoo blackmagic.


Another popular scam is money-doubling:

Dubai Court heard that Kinte conducted an experiment in front of Hussein by asking him to hand over a $100 note. Kinte spread a white powder on the note and then washed it in water. He then handed Hussein two $100 notes, claiming the chemical had somehow "cloned" them. Hussein agreed bring Kinte $20,000. When he did, Kinte put the banknotes in a bag and then covered them with the white powder. The bag was sealed after which Kinte injected it with a second chemical substance. Kinte told Hussein to keep the bag with him without opening it, but Hussein, at last suspecting he was the victim of a con, opened the bag and found his money gone.

The police have been warning about this for years but there are still plenty of desperate fools around. The problem is that many people here - particularly those from remote villages (here or in Asia) - are highly superstitious and not very well educated. They don't read newspapers, and they don't surf the internet. If they do get online, they quickly become the victims of Nigerian money scams.

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7 Comments:

Blogger adevents said...

LOL, this is very very old trick I cant believe there is still some people believe that shit, if some one can double the money by any method why should he go look for others to double their money and charge them, why would he bother , just double up his money and enjoy it, no one can think as simple as this thinking?

05 June, 2006 14:43  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The courts hardly help by prosecuting the conmen for sorcery - I can't think of a more ringing endorsement.

05 June, 2006 14:53  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

worrying thing is that last week it was a POLICEMAN who was the victim, not an undercover policeman, just a stupid one

05 June, 2006 18:06  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When will people learn, there is no such thing as making easy money. One has to work to make money!

Why would a complete stanger come up to you and say I can double your money for you. HELLO!!!!

05 June, 2006 19:07  
Blogger Shaper85 said...

I wonder what the superstitious will be doing today, on 06/06/06. Probably being conned by n'er-do-wells!

06 June, 2006 05:09  
Blogger snow white said...

white powder, $100 bill, and a sudden absence of logical thought? Yup, Dubai really is turning into Vegas ....

07 June, 2006 19:55  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Should have checked if the victims were suffering from sunstroke.

Though I feel sorry for the women that were promised husbands. However as most women have an idea of the dream man (stud) that they would like to marry, at least they were spared the disapointment of Mr ordinary turning.

As for the money trick only one word sums it up GREED.

15 June, 2006 01:52  

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