Am I naive or ..........

daisiegg

All the comments about it being dangerous to give out your work address are frankly hilarious. Heck, I work for a school and anyone could look up my school's website and see its address and my name listed as a member of staff. The same is true for lots of companies - they list names of staff on their company websites, in publications, etc. What dastardly things can someone actually do with your name and the address of your workplace?!

As for the OP, I'd have probably done the same thing for the sake of £5. Had it been £10 or more I'd have had to think more carefully. I used to work as a checkout girl whilst studying and you often get customers who have forgotten their money - and on more than one occasion, if it's just a very small purchase (under £5) the person behind them in the queue has paid for it for them! There are kind, generous, NOT cynical people out there. As others have said, I'd really like to think that if I were stuck, a kind stranger would help me out...(I feel a bit of a Blanche DuBois quote coming on...)

daisiegg

mildred1978 wrote: »

She could havegone to the petrol station at Tesco and filled out a form for non-payment of fuel. A couple of quid would have got her to her nan's and back and she would have owed Tesco, not you.

Guess you live and learn.

I had no idea this was possible...don't blame the girl (or the OP) for not realising either...

purple.sarah

If she had a phone she could call a locksmith! I've heard a variation of this 'stranded traveller' story too many times before.

I wouldn't give out your employers contact details because you don't trust the girl with your personal ones because she could be a criminal. Not very professional!

custardy

daisiegg wrote: »

I had no idea this was possible...don't blame the girl (or the OP) for not realising either...

as long as you provide proof of ID then you can leave the petrol station without paying
handy to know if you are ever stuck
of course if you dont return to pay its a different matter

heretolearn_2

I think you were scammed. Hard to tell though and there's nothing wrong with having a kind heart and giving someone the benefit of the doubt IF you genuinley can afford to lose that money.

I get approached probably once a week or so with some sob story, we only live in a small town but there is a high number of very visible street alcoholics and other assorted people 'with problems' of one sort or another. I must look soft as they spot me and swerve over, but I don't give them anything, so you'd think they'd have given up by now.

The only time I made an exception was a woman approaching me as I crossed a car park in the rain with some story about needing money for bus fare to get to her mum's house. She had a cold-looking toddler in a pushchair with her. I still think she was a scammer but on the off chance it was true I had to help out for the childs sake - or even if it was a scam I was hoping she'd be satisfied with her take and get that poor child home.

martinthebandit

You may have been scammed, but then again you may not.

Bottom line is, in my opinion, of course you did the right thing.

The world would be a far better place if we were all a little too 'soft' rather than a bit too 'hard'

At the moment you may be thinking you might have been taken for a ride, but if you had not helped out what would you be thinking about yourself now? I know which I would prefer.

Sambucus_Nigra

You could have just paid for the fuel for her.....

globetraveller

You will know by the end of today. So far she has not contacted you and if she had any intention of paying the money back then today she will wonder why she hasn't heard from you yet and phone you. If I had been that woman I would have been so relieved to get my keys and get back home I would have at least texted a very grateful thanks as soon as I got in.

fluffnutter

I suspect you were conned. But so what? You gave a fiver willingly and graciously out of the goodness of your heart; you shouldn't feel ashamed of that.

And ignore NCISROCKS' provocative and paranoid nonsense about giving your work address. If this person was genuine they'll merely use it to return your money, and if they weren't, taking this information was just part of making their story more authentic and they'd have ditched the address long ago. What are they going to do with your work address?? Break in and steal the photocopier?

dealer_wins

At least you can be happy knowing that she would of got high or drunk for a couple of hours on your £5.

Or not so happy if she was being forced to do this con by a ruthless Eastern European gangmaster.