More On Ayampe Scammers - The Walkers

In this BLOG, I will show how the Walkers initially set up their Ayampe scam.

After the Walker’s introduced us to their “Ayampe Project”, I sent them the following e-mail on Nov 24, 2008 :

“Hello John and Dixie,…As you know, Debi and I are looking forward to moving to Ecuador and we would like to be able to participate in investment opportunities that (1) we feel comfortable with; (2) with people we can trust; (3) that will have good returns; and (4) with an opportunity that is good for the community. That being said, I think this could be a good opportunity for us to get started.”

The Walkers knew where my wife and I stood from the start. For their part, they were clever in their deception and in their ability to come across as honest, decent people – essential for pulling off this scam.

Once I confronted them with evidence of their scam and asked for a return of our money because terms of the agreement had not been met, the Walkers dropped their “sincere, decent” pose and turned into arrogant asses. But I digress.

On December 10, 2008 they went so far as to email John’s resume and those of other “potential” investors and professionals associates who had expressed an interest in contributing to the project in one way or another.

The resumes and names that John dropped as “potential” investors/contributors has the best pedigrees. John characterized them as “well-qualified, well-connected people in Ecuador.” They sent the resumes of the following people:

·         PEDRO LUIS GOMEZ-CENTURION RIZZOTTI (A management Consultant);

·         GUSTAVO GONZALEZ GALARZA (A Land Planner/Site Designer);

·         FRANCISCO NUGUÉ VARAS (A Trust lawyer) and,

·         RUY QUEVEDO (business partner and land owner).

With the exception of Ruy Quevedo, none of these people were ever heard of again. Here is what John Walker wrote in his Dec. 10, 2008, email:

“I believe that the Ayampe project will be a showcase that will then launch into many other opportunities. Although the international markets are depressed, Ecuador has many advantages for investment and there is still a very big global push for the use of environmental technologies.

Attached are CV’s of some of the people who have expressed interest in some or all of the above concept. I have personally raised substantial capital and have been directly involved in a number of large projects over the last 35 years – some being my own projects and inventions. I have also been a recipient of many Government grants and business awards since the mid 1970’s.”

He goes on further, in the same email:

“Other people whose CV’s are not mentioned include Juan Heredia from Terra Diversa (www.terradiversa.com) and Gary Phillips of Pro-Ecuador (www.pro-ecudaor.com). Both are assisting with capital raising efforts, as well as other components (tours, development services, environmental interest, etc).”

Now this is interesting -- the two people John Walker mentions that did not have a resume, he chose to work with. To my knowledge, Juan Heredia did not have anything to do with the Walkers “Ayampe Project”. However, Gary Phillips became their “Sales & Marketing Manager” for the Ayampe scam. In fact, Gary Phillips SOLD enough lots to earn a free condo in their so-called “PROJECT”.  

On Feb 18, 2009, John Walker wrote:

“Cedric & Debi

We are getting closer. We had three sales from Gary Phillips yesterday, with deposits paid. I think we only have two of the 10 left to sell. We offered him a bonus of a FREE small condo if he got 10 sales. And he has got it… We are back at Ayampe again, and the lot is now cleared, except for the mangrove lagoon. We  have the subdivision titles at the municipal to do today and tomorrow, and Ruy is organizing to have the fences repaired and also the old guard-house (just as temporary measures). Dix and I will continue to keep on top of the sales, emails, the legals and the architect stuff. The Trust for the 10 homes should be established within 2-3 weeks. It should then be 100% go-ahead. I can then start on raising the money for the hotel. The architect will be kept very busy!!! … Thanks again for your help. As I told you before, this project has been able to get fast-tracked because of your investment. We will be needing more funds soon, so we want to get that escrow account established by Morgan & Morgan ASAP. I hope to get the forms today, and then it should be opened next week.”

As further evidence of Gary Phillips involvement with the Walkers, Dixie Davey Walker on June 2, 2009 wrote a response to rebut a posting a RipOffReport.com that savaged her husband John Walker. She makes the point that the poster suggests people who are interested in Ecuador should avoid John Walker, but instead, seek help from Gary Phillips. Dixie makes the point in her rebuttal that Gary Phillips is their Sales & Marketing Manager.  “He (the poster) refers to Gary Phillips as a better reference. But Gary is our Sales & Marketing Manager and friend for a property development that John is doing with our Ecuadorian partner.” [See the links to the complete RipOffReport.com postings on the Walkers at the bottom of this BLOG.]

Now, I did not have anything to do with Gary Phillips personally. However, some of the other land investors did so purely based on Gary Phillips running promotional ads on his website for the Walkers Ayampe scam. This also shows the extent to which the Walkers were going to further bait us and other investors into their scam. As John Walker states above, the titles were due in a day or two (from Feb 18, 2009). We are all still awaiting those titles! He also states that the escrow account “should be opened next week”. I guess “next week” has not gotten here yet!

To further entice us and other investors to invest in their scam, John Walker stated that he had an agreement with Ruy Quevedo signed on November 24, 2008 for: “this exclusive opportunity to offer your property under the above terms until Monday 16^th February at 5.00 PM. If the deposit is not paid before this time, and agreement to expend a minimum of $200,000 on infrastructure, this agreement will lapse.”

There’s that $200,000 figure again. It seems like the Walkers like to throw out the $200,000 figure in all of their Business dealings.

Once again, I pose the question for your consideration -- Does that not suggest that the Walkers were operating on an agreement to raise a minimum of $200,000 before the project could “start”and the funds that were to be held in escrow could be released for use?

John Walker not only wrote that to me several times, he also quoted that to me over the telephone in conversations with him. According to the partial records available of money collected and my conversations with individual investors, the $200,000 was never raised.

Yet, John Walker and Dixie Davey Walker continued to email me and continued to publicly publish on their website that the “Project” was proceeding on target. They never hinted that there were problems with hitting the $200,000 target. In fact, quite the opposite! They stated week-after-week, that not only was the “Project” proceeding, but the titles to the land for investors were forthcoming any day. This went on for almost a year!

I find it telling that the Walkers have removed a number of incriminating posts to their website concerning Ayampe.  Not to worry, John and Dixie, I have copies of every single one of your posts that track your intentional deceptions.

Lastly, in further setting up this scam job, John Walker exclaimed that he had the following education and qualifications:

JOHN WALKER EDUCATION (from his resume):

·         University of WA - Bachelor of Commerce (1974). Prize for best degree.

·         Private Pilot License 1984 – 700 hours from WA to Qld (18 trips) return in two years

·         University of WA - Master of Business Administration (1985)

·         70% complete, withdrew to concentrate on own farming business as a result of severe adverse seasonal and economic conditions in Queensland.

Other

-          Bankers Institute Diploma (90% complete in 1975)

-          Company Secretaries Diploma (90% complete in 1975)

-          Enterprise Workshop Business Planning Program (1985)

-          Certificate in Men's Health (Curtin 1995)

-          Small Business Growth Program (Curtin 1995/96)

-          various workshops as part of TQM program (1995)

-          various workshops and courses in Waste Management Industry (1998-2004)

Now, one would think that a person with all that “knowledge and experience” would have enough sense to keep proper accounting when he is suppose to be running a multi-million dollar project with Other People’s Money!

By the way, John has a university degree in finance and worked in the banking industry in Australia for years. Doesn't speak very well of the Australian education or banking systems if you ask me.

RipOffReport.com filings on the Walkers:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/travel-services/retire-in-ecuador-co/retire-in-ecuador-com-sociopat-ea7p3.htm

http://www.ripoffreport.com/liars/john-walker-eco-ecua/john-walker-eco-ecuador-livin-a7bf9.htm

In the next BLOG, I will further examine the following:

·         The false promises and bogus guarantees the Walkers intentionally used to con innocent investors.

·         How long they may have collected money after they knew the “Project” was kaput?

·         Where did the money go?

·         Are The Walkers going to do the right thing and give every victim they scammed their money back? OR, will they even acknowledge their responsibility in the total loss of every dollar invested?