Seeing through a scam<\/p>\n
The area outside Plaza Indonesia between Hotel Indonesia and
\nthe President Hotel can be unpleasant at night, particularly with
\nmany people loitering on the front steps of the shopping center.<\/p>\n
I pass this area often and try to keep my wits about me as I
\nhave heard of various purse snatching and pickpocket cases. At 8
\np.m. on Sept. 24, I crossed Jl. Thamrin from Plaza Indonesia to
\nWisma Nusantara. As I walked toward the crossing intersection, I
\nnoticed an elderly man walking in front of me who would turn
\naround every few steps, presumably checking out who was behind
\nhim.<\/p>\n
I stood away from the man as we waited at the crossing
\nintersection. As we crossed, however, the man moved directly into
\nmy path. Although I walked faster and reached the sidewalk before
\nhim, he again moved directly into my path.<\/p>\n
I then felt him brush his arm against my side and assumed he
\nwas going to try to pickpocket me. Instead, his hand moved
\nrapidly downward and there was a clink as something hit the
\nsidewalk. I picked up a pair of eyeglasses, and saw that both
\nlenses had been shattered.<\/p>\n
I realized quickly that the short drop to the sidewalk could
\nnot have shattered the lenses and that something was going on. I
\nhanded the man back the eyeglasses, and continued walking. He
\ncame up alongside me a few steps later and informed in English
\nthat I owed him Rp 60,000 for breaking the lenses. I replied in
\nIndonesian that I knew the lenses had been shattered beforehand
\nand that he was trying to con me. At that, he turned around and
\nwalked away.<\/p>\n
BRUCE EMOND<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seeing-through-a-scam-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }