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Surfing Con Man Strikes Again

Claiming he’s “Dino Andino,” he swindles another $380 from the surf industry
By Evan Slater

Just over a year ago, we published a story about a con man calling around and impersonating various pros. He’d hit up surf shops, associates and other unsuspecting do-gooders, say he was [insert pro’s name here], lost all his contacts, in a desperate situation at some airport and needed money wired to him. A lot of people fell for it, thinking they’d just helped Adam Wickwire or Christian Fletcher or John John Florence. Then they’d find out they’d just been duped.

The Con Man’s been quiet in the last 12 months, but with his stock portfolio likely dwindling, he decided to give it another shot – and he got away with it…again. Here’s what happened: One Track Mind producer Tim Lynch got a call yesterday from “Dino Andino,” who was stuck in some airport without any contacts and needed money wired to him. He said he was trying to get a hold of “Chris Malloy,” as he obviously knew that Chris and Dino were tight and that Dino’s son Kolohe is featured in the film. He rattled off a few other details that convinced Tim he was the real deal, and since had never heard the initial reports of the con man, he figured it was legit.

“It sounded sketchy,” says Lynch, “but he knew way too much for me to really question it. I honestly thought Dino was just in a tough bind.” After wiring the money to the guy, Chris and Tim later learned they’d been duped.

- advertisement -

This is clearly someone who has intimate knowledge of the surf industry. If anyone receives a call from any “pro” needing money, DO NOT FALL FOR IT. Better yet, call the police.

Reader Comments

Posted Wed Oct 8, 2008, 2:54 AM — By Media Slut

don't these guys get enough press!

Posted Wed Oct 8, 2008, 11:17 AM — By Kenny G

Is this for real?

Posted Wed Oct 8, 2008, 9:49 PM — By Former B-Bonger

Why don't these people ever offer to get the contacts the Pro says he's missing or better yet have the contacts he's missing get in touch with them? Tell Him "I'll call Todd Kline or Steve Clark or Pat O'Connell for you and make sure they get your message." Even I can call up one of these team managers cell phones and he answers 90% of the time and doesn't even check the caller ID. Therefore, if the surf shop guy used three way calling he'd get them all on the phone and the problem would be solved. If that didn't work, he can verify where the pro is by calling anyone at his sponsor and having them ask around. Once they heard Dino Andino was stranded, No one at Billabong (including the front desk girl), would be unable to get him immediate help. I know this person wasn't aware that this scam happened before but in this day and age with technology there are so many options that would get the guy connected to help long before he had to beg from a surf shop. I also kn

Posted Wed Oct 8, 2008, 11:16 PM — By Chuck Ahnut

Man, I guess that con man might be someone on the ASP tour. With Kelly winning most of the contests they got to be pretty desperate for some money to buy some food and support the family. For the sake of the hungry kids Kelly give the other guys a chance to win so they don't have to take desperate measures to feed their family. And for all the suckers who are conned you guys are a bunch of idiots.Once a sucker always a sucker. If you can't recognize your friends voice you earn the right to be conned.

Posted Thu Oct 9, 2008, 12:26 AM — By ALK

Interesting story- My first thoughts are "what a pain, just for a few hundred dollars," but the more i think about it, that is certainly a creative con... At least is wasn't a the Irons bros. losing another 1m in mortgage fraud.

Posted Thu Oct 9, 2008, 1:33 AM — By Poor fessional Surfer

Good its about time someone get 'em back!!! The surf industry has been chiseling people for years with their bro bro false promises.

Posted Thu Oct 9, 2008, 11:43 AM — By mike

This guy is obviously an industry insider, could even be a pro. Could even be Kelly Slater! Whoever it is he's probably laughing.

Posted Fri Oct10, 2008, 11:17 AM — By Former B-Bonger

When they catch him they need to throw him in a cell with GT for six months. That'll cause anyone to walk the straight and narrow once they get out.

Posted Fri Oct10, 2008, 6:44 PM — By wooster

same thing happened to me last year. it was the wickwire scam, i told the guy to call me back in one hour and at that point i could help out . after getting of the phone i called kyle garson to get wickwires moms phone # because it seemed odd and she may be able to help the kid . she was very nice on the phone and said adam was visting his girlfriend at the time and it had to be a scam. so i waited for the call ,and when it came i tried to get the person to meet in person so i could rip his head off for scaming surfers

Posted Sat Oct11, 2008, 12:42 PM — By Greg

Good for the Con-Man. Anyone who would give money to someone just because he's a pro surfer deserves to be taken. If I called the same guys up and said I was in a bind you could be sure they wouldn't help me.

Posted Tue Oct14, 2008, 4:02 PM — By doug fir

This sounds like the work of Mickey Dora. I know everyone fell for that last scam when he told some folks he had died so he could get away with stuff like this. Give the money back Mickey!

Posted Thu Oct23, 2008, 1:19 PM — By Surfcat

Con-man strikes again. Called me three times yesterday posing as Gerlach and had his story down. He was at Kennedy Airport in NYC and waiting for me to wire the money. He wasn't pushy but I knew it was coming. Watch your back cause he's very convincing. He tried pulling this on me 2yrs ago and got away with a phone card from my sponsors.Probably the same one he used to call me yesterday. By the way...how'd he get my cell??

Posted Tue Mar10, 2009, 12:48 PM — By Tori Paschke

i want john john florences cel number

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