In Reply to: Scammed by a Balienese posted by Minnie on Thursday, 1. August 2013 at 12:07 Bali Time:
I think you are wanting to feel better in knowing that you are not the only one that has been scammed by a Balinese. Believe me you are not the first or the last.
You say it was a medical scam. We'll that's just many of the scams that go one here and around the world.
Just a few facts. 1. Anyone (Local) who has a letter from their Kepala Desa stating they cannot afford (or their family cannot afford) medical treatment gets free medical treatment. 2. They can also get 75% of their treatment subsidized by the government if they apply and can prove hardship. 3. Anyone who can afford it pays it, and in some cases they can pay it off in installments interest free.
No-one should ever give money for medical, sick relatives or funerals etc to a local unless they actually are sitting at the hospital paying the bill themselves(grandad will die many times in the time you know a person if they are the type to ask for money).
I got scammed by a 4 year old Balinese once, it must be in the blood as I raised her, cheeky little bugger.
You know if you really look into the Balinese religion, they do spend a lot of timing tricking the gods and the demons so they are experts at trickery. You see, if it works then why not try it, it's just like gambling to them. It's not seen in their culture the same was as it is seen in yours, they do it to their own family as well and they see it as a challenge to come up with the smartest trick (especially among brothers).
I love many Balinese but does not mean I am surprised that you have been scammed.