Hustles, scams, cons and lies in the cuban cigar world.

[ponfed]

I have seen my share. In Cuba, anytime I was smoking a cigar while outside the resort/hotel some good looking friendly guy approached me and asked conspirationaly if I wanted cigars at huge discount.

I've never seen the glass top esplendidos in the flesh, but I have seen it online, as well as all kind of badly crafted fakes or weirdly typeset bands etc.

But with the kinda of experience present on this forum, both in the industry and just as wary consumers, I'm curious as to what crazy schemes are going on that I never heard of.

So go! Give us your best, weirdest or most impressing scams.

I swear I'm not doing research to go in the business of scamming myself;)

 

[luckme10]

I had one guy come up to me and ask if I wanted to buy some Cubans from his cousin who works at the factory. I told him to go away.

Then he asks me if he can exchange some currency. He was clearly hoping that I would be able to give him CUC (Cuban Convertable Pesos, pegged to the dollar) to CUP (cuban pesos). I told him to leave.

He then just starts begging to give him some money. I told him, "chingas tu madre."

I'm glad he took a hint at that point because the only thing that was stopping me from beating the crap out of him was that I didn't want to end up in a cuban prison.

Maybe if he just asked I would have been more likely to give him some change. But nothing rubs me the wrong way more than some guy trying to run scam after scam like that. Every time I see something like that it makes me want to get a concealed carry license. You just never know what someone might try to do.

[oliverdst]

Once in Melia Havana an employee (not from the cigar shop) approached me saying that he could sell me cigars way cheaper than the shop.

[ponfed]

How about higher level things?

Stuff that a trustworthy retailer of fine cuban cigars with a great online store and thriving online community might be confronted by, as a purely random example.

 

[luckme10]

You get stuff like this: 

1. People buy a box of Cubans, claim they are fake.

2. Seller agrees to take them back.

3. Buyer replaces authentic cigars with fake ones and sends them back.

 

[Kitchen]

I was in the Partagas store a little less then 2 years ago, which was about the time visits from the USA reached a fever point.  There were so many obvious non-cigar smoking Americans in there buying cigars just because, you know, you have to come back with a box of Cubans if you visit Cuba.  The store clerk was getting really annoyed; you could feel his anger at all the dumb questions he kept on getting asked over and over again.  I found this rather comical, and the store clerk and I had a good laugh when it died down.  

Well anyway, there was this kid in the store, could not have been older then 20, standing near to me who could not make up his mind and kept asking questions.  Eventually the store clerk just through his hands up and said, "I'll be over hear when you make up your mind."  Just as he walked away, this random Cuban lady approached the kid and asked what he was doing.  He explained everyone told him he needed to bring back a box of Cuban cigars.  She then goes on to tell him the very common story of my cousins work at one of the factories and if he came with her, he could get a box for much less.  The kid's face lights up and he leaves the store with her.  I was amazed.  

Now I know this is a pretty common scam, but this lady had the gaul to pull it off in the store within hear shot of the clerk, and pulled it off.  

Also, at the end of day, I know this kid was scammed, but I cant imagine he would have appreciated a real Cuban cigar anyway.  So, it was probably best for him in the long run.  

[ponfed]

37 minutes ago, Kitchen said:

I was in the Partagas store a little less then 2 years ago, which was about the time visits from the USA reached a fever point.  There were so many obvious non-cigar smoking Americans in there buying cigars just because, you know, you have to come back with a box of Cubans if you visit Cuba.  The store clerk was getting really annoyed; you could feel his anger at all the dumb questions he kept on getting asked over and over again.  I found this rather comical, and the store clerk and I had a good laugh when it died down.  

Well anyway, there was this kid in the store, could not have been older then 20, standing near to me who could not make up his mind and kept asking questions.  Eventually the store clerk just through his hands up and said, "I'll be over hear when you make up your mind."  Just as he walked away, this random Cuban lady approached the kid and asked what he was doing.  He explained everyone told him he needed to bring back a box of Cuban cigars.  She then goes on to tell him the very common story of my cousins work at one of the factories and if he came with her, he could get a box for much less.  The kid's face lights up and he leaves the store with her.  I was amazed.  

Now I know this is a pretty common scam, but this lady had the gaul to pull it off in the store within hear shot of the clerk, and pulled it off.  

Also, at the end of day, I know this kid was scammed, but I cant imagine he would have appreciated a real Cuban cigar anyway.  So, it was probably best for him in the long run.  

I'm Canadian, so Cuban cigars don't have the attraction of the forbidden fruit. However they are extremely expensive.

Consequently, you wouldn't believe the number of low level scumbag who believe they'll be able to pay for their trips by buying boxes of Cohibas in Cuba and reselling them on the down low back home. They tell you this with that weird weasel smile they get when they think they are getting something over someone somehow.

They all think they're the first to think about it. They all think they're fucking Tony Soprano crossed with Warren Buffet crossed with the Count of Montecristo for their little scheme. 

Oh how proud they are!

I never heard of any one of these people turning a profit doing that.... They always end up selling them on craigslist for less then they paid for. Plus they usually get scammed buy the guy who sells them "gold" chains on the beach.

Mastermind smugglers they are...

 

[JGD]

Prior to touring La Corona my group was told not to buy any cigars from the rollers. We were told that a common scam is for them to sell us cigars only to have security confiscate the cigars. Then security will return the cigars to the roller and they will split the profits. 

[garbandz]

There was a vendor that always shipped with the bands off in an unmarked box,claiming they would mail the box and bands separately.

Then a week after your cigars arrived, a letter would show up claiming the box and bands were seized by Customs.

Brilliant con, no bands to fake, no boxes or inserts, and of course the cigars were $1.25 each local  rolls.

Then they would bombard your email with offers for more" deals "

Bastards.

[Bagman]

13 hours ago, luckme10 said:

You get stuff like this: 

1. People buy a box of Cubans, claim they are fake.

2. Seller agrees to take them back.

3. Buyer replaces authentic cigars with fake ones and sends them back.

 

We never got the conclusion of that story.   So you did take them back and they were not the ones you sent him?   I'm SOOOOOOOO surprised!

[RDB]

I quite like some scams... but only if they rely on bad behaviour by the person who is duped. Taking advantage of someone’s kindness is vile, but taking advamtage of their greed is very different.

[cigcars]

8 hours ago, garbandz said:

There was a vendor that always shipped with the bands off in an unmarked box,claiming they would mail the box and bands separately.

Then a week after your cigars arrived, a letter would show up claiming the box and bands were seized by Customs.

Brilliant con, no bands to fake, no boxes or inserts, and of course the cigars were $1.25 each local  rolls.

Then they would bombard your email with offers for more" deals "

Bastards.

     *** Soooo, in other words nice box of General Cigars' Honduran Punch Rothschilds, and lonsdale size La Unicas ya got there... 

[BrightonCorgi]

On 9/20/2018 at 11:21 PM, luckme10 said:

You get stuff like this: 

1. People buy a box of Cubans, claim they are fake.

2. Seller agrees to take them back.

3. Buyer replaces authentic cigars with fake ones and sends them back.

 

I would tell the other big online vendors who this person is to make them aware.