SCAMMED - lesson learnt :(

dealer_wins

Scammers ruin it for the (few) people in genuine need of help yet again.

Bit like the benefit scammers isnt it LOL

20 years ago there were a few chancers about, but scammers are prolific these days, everywhere.

fozmcfc

Very recently I had someone ask me for money for their mum to get home by train as her purse had been stolen. I just said sorry only got my pass and no money.

A few years ago, very near my home, some woman came running down the road towards me saying her car had broken down and she needed money to make a phone call, I refused politely.

The very next day the same woman came running up to me this time a bit further away, but saying the same thing. I just said, oh the same car that broke down on the same road yesterday.

She walked off and started to try someone else, I just shouted, don't give her anything, she tried that with me yesterday and today, I'll be reporting it to the police when I get home.

I've seen her around my area a few times since, but I haven't seen her asking anybody for money.

Ronaldo_Mconaldo

Just console ypurself withh the fact that if you hadn't willingly given this man the money then he'd have probably murdered it out of you. Honestly this country is a disgusting and worthless place but you people are making it worse in your pathetic attempt to make youself feel better. Now some smackhead has got his jollies based on your naive nature.

So next time someone comes along begging for money in one of the many different schemes in use just tell them to !!!! off or get a job. It'll make you feel better and give the scum some useful advise.

MamaMoo_2

I was sitting outside Birmingham Snow Hill station once, waiting for my friends. I was about 13 and the time, and had a backpack on full of food, as we were all going to another friends for a sleepover/pig out session.
The beggar outside started chatting to me, and was really friendly. He asked if I would like to buy a big issue. I said I couldn't afford one, but I offered him a couple of sarnies, some pop, and some choccie bars. He took them happily, and even ran around the corner to bring another beggar to sit with us so he could share what I had given him with the other bloke. Really nice chap.
Any time I went on the train after that, I used to bring him a pack of cheap biscuits, he used to always sit and share them with his dog or his friends

Azari

MamaMoo wrote: »

I was sitting outside Birmingham Snow Hill station once, waiting for my friends. I was about 13 and the time, and had a backpack on full of food, as we were all going to another friends for a sleepover/pig out session.
The beggar outside started chatting to me, and was really friendly. He asked if I would like to buy a big issue. I said I couldn't afford one, but I offered him a couple of sarnies, some pop, and some choccie bars. He took them happily, and even ran around the corner to bring another beggar to sit with us so he could share what I had given him with the other bloke. Really nice chap.
Any time I went on the train after that, I used to bring him a pack of cheap biscuits, he used to always sit and share them with his dog or his friends

What a nice recollection.

arcon5

Ronaldo_Mconaldo wrote: »

Just console ypurself withh the fact that if you hadn't willingly given this man the money then he'd have probably murdered it out of you. Honestly this country is a disgusting and worthless place but you people are making it worse in your pathetic attempt to make youself feel better. Now some smackhead has got his jollies based on your naive nature.

Ye, it's all our fault these people drink, take drugs, rip people off ect .

Nothing to do with the fact they get benefits from left right and center, the fact the police are failing to stop the supply of drugs or the fact these people have been brought up without morals, ethics or a sense of decency.

If everybody stopped giving them a few pence i'm sure it won't stop the route cause. It will just mean burglaries, muggings (ect) rates will go up.

We should either:

- line these people up attached to each other with a chain, tie a large heavy rock to the person at the front and push them off the end of a pier

or

- try to help them improve their life, come off the drugs and get to the route cause

(personally though I would choose the former... easier, quicker and cheaper solution )

cassie55

fluffnutter wrote: »

I spent my student days in London, dressed in the ubiquitous outfit of DMs, scruffy parker and unwashed hair. Once, whilst stopping to tie my shoelace at the end of Hungerford Bridge, a woman pressed 50p into the palm of my hand and exhorted me to 'get a nice cup of tea, love'. Before I could refuse she'd rushed off, leaving me standing there, shouting 'I'm at university. I'm middle-class!' after her.

I was mortified, went home, and had a massive bath

This happened to a friend of mine. Her flatmats were moving and after their van had left she realised they'd left one of their pillows behind. She was meeting them at their new place later to help them unpack and was on the tube with the pillow (dressed very casually as there was cleaning involved) when a woman came up to her, gave her a fiver and told her to buy herself a good meal :rotfl:

helphelphelphelp

If I get approached by a homeless person (or at least looking like a homeless person) asking for 'spare change' or a pound for the bus fare I generally give it to them if I have it. I am under no illusions that they will probably spend it on drink but I believe that they do not choose to live on the streets and that drinking is an illness or they do it to blot out their problems. Whilst maybe I dont agree with this lifestyle, I do think 'there for but the grace of god go I'.

missesther

When I was volunteering during my teen years, a couple of girls and I, every week, used to make up sandwiches and take them to the homeless in our city with some crisps. Most accepted the food gladly but one or two would always reject it. Made me wonder why they were begging on the streets if it wasn't for food.

No, sorry, I knew exactly what they were begging for, sad really.

trumpton

If I recall, even the old boss of Shelter said not to give money to beggars. If you we make begging and living on the streets a viable option, such people have no incentive to get clean, get a job etc.

If I were you OP, I would just put it down to experience and try to forget about it. Everyone gets ripped off at some point. It was a kind thing to do on your part - hopefully karma will pay him back at some point.

My friend once refused to give money 'for a cuppa' to a beggar. Instead she bought him a bottle of fresh orange juice. As she walked away, feeling pretty good about herself, she looked back to see him pouring it into a bottle of meths.