JEDDAH, 22 September 2005 — Spread the word: A pair of confidence men is on the loose and victimizing Filipino women in Jeddah who are looking for jobs.

Arab News gathered that the conmen lure their prey by seeking referrals from unsuspecting Filipinos working in beauty parlors and dress shops for compatriots who wish to work for a “princess.”

It doesn’t matter if the jobseeker does not have a working permit or an iqama, so long as she is willing to work hard. The princess, they are told, has “strong connections” and would provide the necessary papers.

One of the criminals is said to speak understandable Filipino and drives a brand new car, which makes the jobseekers lower their guard.

Last week, Aida (not her real name) got a call from a friend that someone was looking for a Filipino woman willing to work at a saloon owned by a princess. Tired of her part-time job, the 50-year-old Aida last week took the bait and agreed to meet with the “princess’ agent” in front of Al-Khaleej Palace Hotel along Madinah Road at 8 p.m.

Aida came with friend and they were supposed to be taken to the princess’ shop in Hera District. According Aida’s friend who preferred to be called Lani, the Filipino-speaking man of dark complexion was with a driver who did not talk during their trip. They were taken to a place where buildings were sparse and were told to pass via a side gate.

“Before we stepped out of the car, we were told to leave our bags along with our cell phones in the car because the guards do not allow any of these. They showed us at least three ladies' bags in the car, and that convinced us that we were not the only applicants,” an angry Aida to Arab News.

“As we approached the gate, the car sped away. We had to walk a far distance to get a cab, minus our wallets and cell phones,” she said in Filipino.

Lani said they also learned later that some of their friends have received calls offering to work for the fictitious princess.

“The mugger is shameless and aggressive. He even visited one of my friends whose mobile number is in my list of contacts and offered her the same job. It didn’t even occur to him that we may have warned others of what happened to us,” Lani said in a separate telephone interview.

Aida and Lani said they were thankful that they were only robbed and abandoned.

They said they heard from friends later that three other victims have not returned home yet and were probably the owners of the three bags inside the car.

“Maybe the other victims were younger and forced into prostitution. Perhaps we were spared from further harm because we were old,” said Lani.

The two were quite lucky, indeed.

Arab News gathered that another woman, who gave the name “Lorna,” was trying to flag down a taxi in Balad in downtown Jeddah when a car stopped close to her and one of the passengers sprayed her eyes with chemical strong enough to render her temporarily blind. The assailants then took her bag and mobile phone.

“Fortunately, I was able to hold on to a lamppost to regain my balance. Two women helped me, and when I was able to see, I took a taxi back to the beauty parlor where I worked,” Lorna told Arab News.

The victims are crying for justice after what happened to them.

Arab News tried to call Lorna’s number (used by the man to call other victims), but the call was not returned. The same was true with Aida’s number.

Embassy personnel and community leaders contacted by Arab News said criminal groups such as the one who mugged Aida and Lani thrive because the victims are unwilling to complain to the authorities for reasons only they know.

“Under these circumstances, what we can do is to warn members of the community to avoid taking on job offers from people they don’t know and to check first with our office if such a company or employer exists,” said Des Dicang, assistant labor representative at the consulate.