Scamming is not a career choice!

[patt]

I was in the parking lot for Lowe's this morning and saw a young woman play her marks very skillfully. From where I sat, I watched her fix on her target, go running up to the two guys in the "handyman" new model truck and begin her tale of woe. Her step-father was bleeding from the head and she had to take him to a hospital 30 miles away and she had no gas and her payday wasn't till Friday and she was scared he was going to die...oh, and he's bleeding everywhere! Deep breathes, wide eyes and heaving cleavage. It worked like a charm and one young man reached for his wwallet and handed her several bills.

When I saw her run after another car- always the late model, shiny ones, of course- I drove by and interrupted her spiel- can I help, oh, do let me call 9-1-1, you poor thing! Guess what, my help wasn't wanted. Her step-dad was bleeding from the head and nearly unconcious but he couldn't afford an ambulance and didn't want debt.

I hope the young man she targeted figured it out. She wasn't the best I've seen, but she did have that deep breathing, heaving bosom thing down pretty well.I didn't do anything more because sometimes the best way to learn that she won't pay you back on payday is to give her the money and wait...and wait...and wait. Maybe I should have offered to administer first aid but instead, I drove off.

The most audacious I ever saw was the girl on one freeway on ramp who was 6 months pregnant- for a year and a half. Pretty good trick.

Patt

[Beth]

That's when you just reach for the phone and dial 911 or offer to drive them. Wish my nephew (paramedic/firefighter) or a good doctor would happen upon them. -- BTW, where was the bleeding man??????

[jmarie]

We have seen a lot of that recently. We saw a guy standing near road with a sign, "Will work for food." We stopped and asked him what kind of work he could do or was wanting. He laughed and said actually I just want money. We drove off.

Another time, we saw a guy in a wheel chair with a sign asking for donations to help him get home. Someone was pulling away from him, the light changed and we moved on, did our business, then returned to get gas. There he was, walking around the vehicle, threw the wheel chair in the back, and the group he was with said how much did we get, this time? He said $62.00. One said "NOT BAD! Let's head to McDonald's, I'm hungry!

You're SPOT ON, on this one PATT!

[ClaraB]

DH was in Denver recently, and among the street people he saw one with a sign that caught his attention: I'm not gonna lie, I need money for beer. DH gave him points for honesty, at least, although he still didn't get any money...

[JulieM]

Yesterday evening DH and I were leaving Whole Foods, and as we were putting our groceries in the car, a woman approached DH, very apologetic, saying she had been at a bar with a male friend, he got drunk and left her stranded there and her wallet was on his front seat. She said he lived a ways out (gave us the approximate location), and the cab company quoted her an estimate of $43 to take her home. She said she had a $20 and about $3 in change and could we help? She said she was terribly embarrassed and had called the police, since her friend was drunk when he left her and she was also worried about him having an accident, but said they wouldn't help.

I was sitting in the car by this time and assessed her. She was dressed decent, spoke well, had a nice purse, etc. DH looked at me, I nodded and he gave her $20.

She rushed off and stood in front of Whole Foods on her cell phone. We drove to the neighboring parking lot and watched her. After a couple of minutes she approached another car and then another. Finally she walked to the neighboring parking lot where there was a closed/abandoned Blockbuster store, walked around the side of the building and approached the passenger side of a car that had a guy behind the wheel. DH pulled up beside her, called her on the con and demanded his $20 back. She pleaded that this guy was harrassing her, insisting he would drive her home. Bill said you're not going to con me twice, you have two choices.. give me my money or I'm calling the police. (I wrote down the license plate number.) She handed him the $20 while going on and on about how the guy was harrassing her and we drove away. Of course, she went to the guys car, he didn't approach her, so it was obvious.

I admit I was filled with many emotions. Anger for being conned, sadness for this women living this pitiful life, etc. I told DH to leave her alone because she obviously needed the money for something, even if she'd lied, and was having a way worse life than us! I don't know.. it's upsetting and as DH said she makes it really hard for people who legitimately need help!

[justmary]

There is a man with a sign saying he will work for food right by the expressway exit to work. He has been there for a couple of years almost every day. One of my coworkers made an extra lunch and handed it to him. He said what is this? I want money, not food. She was pretty upset.

[JulieM]

I know someone who felt sadness for one of those beside the road people that claimed to want money for food. So he drove to McDonald's and bought a giant bag of food, spending like $40, drove back and gave the man the bag. As he drove away, he saw the guy throw the bag of food away in the wooded area behind him.

I had a man approach me once at the laundromat claiming to need money for diapers. We were right behind a grocery store and liquor store. I gave him money and he walked straight to the liquor store.

[Valerie226]

We have people on every freeway exit..... "Homeless" "homeless Vietnam vet" "Homeless with family to feed"

I always feel bad but I don't give them anything because of stories like above...... no way to tell what's legitimate and what's a con.

[patt]

I've lived mostly in communities that are very compassionate about helping people in need. I learned through similar experiences to those noted here that I make more impact on the problem by giving to the organizations that have the professional staff and outreach to give help. This includes shelters, clinics, food kitchens and mental health programs.
In general, I'm more sympathetic to the beggars than to the scam artists. "Lear Jet out of Fuel" on a cardboard sign is funny. Fake illnesses and medical situations that are designed to fool people- not so much. There was something very unappealing about the sign that read "Pregnant grandmother looking after 3 starving babies" that made me almost froth at the mouth.

Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. Maybe she was an out-of-work comic trying on a new routine.

Patt

[ClaraB]

I know someone who felt sadness for one of those beside the road people that claimed to want money for food. So he drove to McDonald's and bought a giant bag of food, spending like $40, drove back and gave the man the bag. As he drove away, he saw the guy throw the bag of food away in the wooded area behind him.

OTOH, I saw a homeless man a few years ago as I was going into McDonald's. I took pity on him and bought him a meal on the way out. He seemed extremely grateful for the donation. I agree it's so hard to know who's legitimate and who's a scammer.

[jmarie]

We have a what you would call a town drunk. I feel pity for him. He walks around all of the time looking for coins dropped on the parking lots. I will not give him money because I know he saves it for beer, and people can get into trouble for arranging for him to be drunk (by giving him too much money). I will take him into a store and buy him cigarettes, and I will take him into a fast food restaurant and purchase him some food...and gave him a coat on a really cold day. But I know, who he is...I know his needs personally. He is just a pitiful guy. I am leery of others though!

I do remember another amusing situation! We were at Asheville, NC and we had pizza at the Mellow Mushroom. We didn't eat it all and decided to box it up and take it with us. As we were walking down the sidewalk a young man approached us and said "What are you going to do with that food?" We told him we were taking it home. he said "Would you give it to me?" And we did. We got a good laugh out of it. A totally different take on pan handling!!!! (Pizza Pan handling!)

[JulieM]

I do remember another amusing situation! We were at Asheville, NC and we had pizza at the Mellow Mushroom. We didn't eat it all and decided to box it up and take it with us. As we were walking down the sidewalk a young man approached us and said "What are you going to do with that food?" We told him we were taking it home. he said "Would you give it to me?" And we did. We got a good laugh out of it. A totally different take on pan handling!!!! (Pizza Pan handling!)

We had this happen to us once too and gave the guy our leftovers. A great way for a needy person to get food, I'd think!

[jmarie]

I think our guy was a college guy. Good way to get the best pizza in town!

[JMM74]

JMarie... I knew I liked you! Mellow Mushroom is the BEST!!! Argh... so good.

I think you can tell by the level of contriteness. Anyone who is in a "major crisis" will go into a store and call 911 themselves. The huge sob stories are usually a huge tip off. I fell for one once (bought a guy a meal, went back to give it to him and he about yelled at me and walked away). I gave it one more shot with a pretty sorry looking older guy on an exit ramp outside Atlanta. I was broke too, but I felt bad for him. He asked for money for food, very quietly and politely. I had no money but had just blew the last of my cash at the store. I had extra bananas. I gave him two and as I was driving away saw him diving right into one. He really was hungry.

[leebee]

Of course there are people who take advantage, and it can really make one angry. But remember that a gift given is just that--if I give money to someone, I don't have the right to tell them what he can or can't do with it. And an act of generosity is no less generous if it is misused on the other end. Yes, I'd MUCH rather ensure my "gift" is going to someone deserving, but I can't always tell. I have given money & food to those who appear to be in need before, and I have NEVER had a rude reaction, so I don't know what that is like. I'd rather assume I'm doing a good thing than be afraid to offer assistance. That being said, I'm not really naive. In the case of an "emergency" I WOULD dial 911 & inform them of the situation. If it was a scam, it wouldn't be on my head. I would also inform the store if this was taking place in their parking lot, as they will deal with it as well. My mother once offered her services as a trained EMT (she was one) when she was approached in this way & the person took off at a dead run. Problem solved!

[cookinator]

Last weekend I was at a low end restaurant in a high end shopping mall. I had plenty of time to watch a young woman with two kids, one she put in a small stroller, the other stood next to her. I watched her pull a cardboard sign out of her oversized purse and then ask people as they approached the mall. Amazing how many, all men, gave her bills. After an hour she tucked the small sign into her purse and pulled out her iphone to make a call. The child in the stroller jumped out and began to chase the older one. Call ended she headed into the parking lot and got into a brand new black with no license plate yet, BMW. Off she went....

[jmarie]

jmarie... I knew i liked you! Mellow mushroom is the best!!! Argh... So good.

I hear ya!

[hollysmom]

The only folks on a street corner that get money out of me are the Shriner's and the adorable Firefighters on "Fill the Boot Day". Those are legitimate. I will not support a teen group asking for money on a street corner, but I will give you $20 to wash my car. I used to give $2 to the guy who cleaned my windshield at the street corner in Chicago, because he was working for it.

SSM

[amarante]

And the irony of a career spammer spamming on thread on scamming.

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