abbby wrote: ↑Thu, 08 Apr 2021 6:14 pm
I am lil worried.. Could helper be involved in some scam? Asking a few thousand from me is no small sum...has anyone encountered such situations from ur helper? Her reason is to buy a house..
It could be her getting scammed, it could be someone scamming her family or it could be her scamming you.
Assuming it’s not a scam, it could be her family putting pressure on her to do this. By you saying no, it could actually help her, by removing that pressure - - at least she can tell them that she tried. To be honest, buying a house in the Philippines is often a dicey proposition, even for locals. There is no title insurance and title disputes are very common. Even if it’s completely legit, you could still be doing her a favor, because once the money gets sent there she won’t have any control over it... I can’t tell you how many times my helper has sent back money that doesn’t get used for its intended purpose!
And of course there are some helpers who have ulterior motives and are genuinely trying their luck to shake you down - whether it’s a home purchase, a sick relative or a dead caribou... and once they get the payday, it’s bye bye.
Bottom line, as much as you might want to have a heart for her, there aren’t many scenarios where that turns out good for her or you.