I'd like to apologize to all my friends in Chicago and the DR for unwitingly introducing you to a person who is dishonest, deceiving and a thief!
I met Freddy Dominguez Hernandez on my first trip to Santo Domingo in 2002. He seemed to be a nice guy so we would run together on each of my visits, which happen about four times per year. There was no physical or sexual attraction so he made a good running buddy. Often he would say "I don't want you to trust the Dominican men because they are all out for money." This was nothing new to me as it seemed to be the case during my travels to Germany, Spain, Turkey, Greece and various other places.
Each time I traveled to SD I would let Freddy know in advance and he would meet me as soon as I reached the Colonial Zone (Conde area). I would usually bring him something (shoes, clothes, electronics) and would feed him while I was there. Upon leaving I would give him $100. He was actually getting more than the boogies and we never touched each other! I did this because he seemed to be a decent guy and he helped me get around in SD. Actually, after my first 4 trips I really didn't need any assistance but continued to be nice to Freddy out of friendship. I wasn't using boogies after the first year so I certainly didn't need him to help me find any.
Having just returned home from a 10-day trip in SD I am upset, somewhat surprised and hurt. I can't believe someone I treated so well, someone who has introduced me to his girlfriend, kids and mother, slept in my hotel room, eaten my food and partied with would betray me.
Upon my arrival he asked for US $50 to buy food for his family. No problem. He then ran with me a few days as he has done every trip. Freddy asked when I was leaving (as he's done every trip). The day before leaving he asked to go to the store with me. While at the checkout counter Freddy asked to use my phone, Blackberry Torch, to call a taxi. He has used my phone dozens of times so again, no problem. He says he's going to step outside to make the call and watch for the taxi. I finished my transaction and went to the door of the store. I looked around until finally a lady told me "I heard your friend say to someone on the phone, 'I have the phone now come pick me up'." This guy actually planned days prior to my departure to steal my Blackberry and sell it. He did it the day before my departure because he knew I would not have time to pursue him. He had mentioned before that my phone was worth US$600 in SD. The gentlemen at my hotel desk informed me he asked them two days before if they wanted to buy a Blackberry for $500.
Remember, I have been acquainted with this guy for ten years. He was always calling me his so-called "brother." To sum it up, avoid this man! Delete him from your contact list. If he approaches you ask for his cedula to confirm his identity. He is a lying theif!
His information is listed below.
Freddy Dominguez Hernandez
ID# 001.1517615-8
Buenos Hines
Santo Domingo, Oeste
UPDATE JUNE 10, 2011: The police in DR say 2,751 reports of stolen cellphones across the country already this year may be a low figure because not everyone reports their loss. They say in March alone, 500 Blackberry smartphones were reported stolen.
11 comments:
I see you had to read your child first...lol
After 10 years, your friend just experienced the real Dominican Republic. As a tourist, they are all out to make a dollar on you. Oh, it may take them years, but they will finally get you in the end. You betcha!
I feel u. My Boi in Brasil (neva touched him) & I go back 10 years. He waited till the day i left, borrowed the key to the apartment. I realized on the plane he lifted $300.00, All my CK underwear, All my Lacoste, And Diesel shirts. I put him on blast on Orkut, so everybody knew that Vitor from Bahia, THIEF!! BTW, all his friends dumped him, and he lost his job.....
No read at all baby...just a bit of old fashioned tough parental love. :-)
Sad to hear this story, but no unexpected. I was also taken by Freddie. Seems the problem is that some of us never apply Freddies own advice concerning not trusting Dominican men, when it comes to him. In my own experience dealing with the people there, I've come to realize that the more one becomes trusting and familiar with their so called Dominican friends that more you open yourself to me used and disappointed by them, for example I speak the language and tend to appear hip and cool with all the guys so of course I built relationships with the people there to a greater degree then the other guys that I travel with, so my friends tend to deal with the people there on a one time bases as opposed to myself, that said, what I realized is that the relationships that I develop gives the people there greater access to lie to you, use you and totally betray your trust and generosity, whether the relationship is sexual or simply platonic friendship. It's really a shame that out of the ten years that I have vacationed there, to the tune of going five times a year, that I have yet to find a single true Dominican friend. Additionally, I think that some of us naively expect Dominicans to be as open and honest as the people that we encounter in the States, but that is not so in my opinion, for example if I'm in the States and I were to become friends with someone new to the country and were to witness someone trying to cheat my new friend, I would speak up to ensure that did not happen, not so in the DR, they would simply let their so called American friend fall victim to anything that comes along. Which in closing means that for them your money is important and they could care less bout your friendship.
OH I am so sorry, I know freddy very well, he used to be my Dominican boyfriend when I can to the DR for about a year.He would call me all the time when I returned to the USA and ask for money for food ect..I really got tired of him asking all the time.He also knew my friend before me and my friend did not want to deal with him. I must say he was good to me most of the time, but I am surprised of him stealing, he never stole from me,that is bad, He is very hot and passionate and it can blind you to the truth about many of the guys there. Be careful, do not trust him or others totally.He can be helpful & nice. As I said he always asked for things but never stole from me.Good luck! Continue to enjoy the DR, it is a great place with some good guys.I love it!
We have ALL been there. Do not let the bastard win by causing you to close your heart. Yes, be more careful, but do not lose your faith in others completely. What goes around comes around.
This kind of thing happens all over the world.
I go to Sri Lanka a couple of times a year and while I have not have anthing stolen I do know that my friends there see me as a walking ATM.
I think it a matter of mixing people from different classes.
Your friend, I assume, is from a humble background whereas you would be rich compared to him.
I am sure that if you had freinds from the higher end of DR society this sort of thing would not happen.Because they already have what you have.
I'm not trying to be classist or anything, but its just that then the wealth dynamic would be out of the picture.
After living in Santo Domingo over five years, I have 6 good Dominican friends, low, middle and upper class. I would trust them with my life and I have. One characteristic they have in common, they all have jobs.
He is a well known thief and con artist......others have been victimized by him also
I have lived in the DR for over 8 yrs and have been going for over 10. Freddie was one of the 1st boggies that I meet while there and soon became a BF to one of my good friends. He was a very trust worthy person in the beginning because he was being well taken care of and didn't have a " need" to steal like allot of others there and if you don't know what I mean ...most of the boys sell themselves because they don't have a job and can't get one because of no education. I'm not making excuses for them just stating a fact.
It's really sad that Freddie has not done better for himself and has resorted to stealing and taken advantage of someone who has been so good to him. But, for me it's not
that uncommon to hear something like this because I have gone through the same thing and with so call friends ,there as well. It's really too bad because it does leave a bad taste in your mouth for the boys and the country.
But, it's a good thing that you put him on blast. Hopefully it will save someone else the trouble . Also u might want to send this to Monaga blog because he also knows Freddie very well.
Good luck!
Post a Comment