Hello my friend …

That would be the opening line for many hustlers and con men and it typically continues like this:

Are you alone or in a group? - (I’m on my own - aka: Sitting duck).

Where are you from? - (Denmark)

Oh… I have a nephew / sister / brother / friend / cousin / daughter / whatever, who lives in Denmark. It’s a very nice country.

(From here on it could go)

Listen, maybe you can help me. You know, the postal service in Cuba is very poor. It will take 6 months at least for a letter to get to my friend in Denmark. Could I write a letter for you to bring with you. I can write it in the bar just around the corner. I also have a picture of my friend, you can see…

Arriving at the bar, the bartender will set up 3-5 glasses. One for you, one for the hustler and the rest for his girlfriends. You’ll be expected to order a drink for all of you - and to carry the tab.

But this is just one out of maybe a thousand ways.

The main idea is like fishing:

Cast the fly with a solid hook and an interesting bait
Make sure there’s a good bite and just
Wheeeel it in.

I can offer 4 pieces of advice:

Most importantly. Don’t let it discourage you from talking to the ordinary Cubans
Try pronouncing the name of your country in your native language and with a distinct accent.
If they don’t recognise the name it’s hard to continue the scam :-)
Use your common sense. If it’s too good or too coincidental to be true, it probably isn’t true
Most Cubans don’t have money for fancy jewellery or for teeth of gold; so consider that if you “strike” gold, in many cases, maybe you haven’t