JEDDAH, 6 March 2008 — The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh yesterday warned Filipinos in the Kingdom to beware of men preying on expatriates at airports in the Kingdom.
Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor issued the warning in a press statement as he said at three Filipinos who have arrived in the Kingdom for the first time have been victimized by persons posing as taxi drivers or workers of Saudi employers.
In one incident, a Filipino who arrived at the King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh for the first time reportedly made the mistake of believing a person who claimed to have been sent by his employer to fetch him.
The worker found out later that he was conned after he was made to pay a huge amount and dumped at a road in Riyadh. In another incident last week, two new arrivals on their way to Al-Kharj rode separately on “colorum” or unlicensed taxicabs and one was dumped at a place somewhere in Riyadh and the other one almost got raped, said the embassy statement.
The embassy has reported the matter to Saudi authorities, said the statement.
It did not say whether the victims were men or women, but both genders are known to be vulnerable.
While the most recent victims were all “first-timers,” the embassy said everyone should take precaution.
“If nobody was sent to fetch you at the airport, or in case of problems, call the embassy,” said the statement.
The numbers are (01) 482-3559, 482-3615, 4801918, 482 1577, 482-4354, 482-0507, or 482-1802.
