"S" on my forehead for sucker??

[rox]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

Alen L,

Well I jsut dropped $5 in Norfolk Virginia over Christmas with the same request, "I'm a service guy, I got robbed, I want to get home to my family for Christmas." yeah sure, here is $5.

My mother, who is the most charitable person you would ever want to meet, chastised me, "Roxy that is a scam. I saw a special on it on 20/20, 60 minutes (you pick). You should not have given him any money, it's a scam"

I turned around to my mom & said, "Mom, it probably was a scam. But you know what, maybe it wasn't. It's Christmas, they guy said he wanted to get home to his family. If it was a scam so what, it was only $5. I can live with it. If the guy was legit, mom I wnat to see him get home for Christmas." My mom didn't say another word.

I have to tell you, been there done that. I never actually begged, but I have been rock bottem, where I needed gas. This was when I was like 18, 19, 20. I'll never forget running out of gas on my way to work. Needing just a Dollar of gas to make it in. A really nice man picked me up, took me to the gas station and paid for the jerry can of gas. It actually brings tears to my eyes as I think back on it. I guess that kindness has never left me. I have paid it back many, many, many times to others. Probably the most poignent I can recall is when I was a Branch Manager for a Finance Company. A coulpe drove in with Texas Plates. He was a disable veteran, and it was 3 days before the end of the month. They came in asking me for a loan, the car was out of gas and they had kids in the car. I was working in northern Illinois and the couple and their kids were trying to get to Milwaukee to be with family. They just ran out of money and gas. When they came in they were not looking for a handout, they merely wanted a $100 loan, which they would pay back when the husband got his veteran's disability check in just a few days.

This was not a scam, you had to have seen their faces. They just needed a little help, not a lot, a little. I never carried much cash, but I could cash a check in the cash drawer at work. I cashed a $50 check (which in the 70's was a lot of money) went to my desk and looked up the number for the Salvaiton Army and got directions. I gave them the $50 and the directions to the Salvaiton Army and they were very, very, very grateful. I'll never forget, they had Texas plates on their car. They came within 60 - 70 miles of making it , they were so close, to their family in Milwaukee, they were so close, so close. They were proud, they were not beggers.

I still feel good today knowing that I gave them what they needed, and a little bit more to get to their family. As much as I remember the guy who picked me up and paid for that jerry can of gas when I was oh so young and a waitress needing just one lousy dollar of gas, I also remember the disabled veteran from Texas, his wife and his children. Life is just one big circle.

 

[SnowRidge]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

Well, I guess I will just have to be the resident cynic.

I think it was a scam. There are just too many red flags. His mother was in the hospital AND they were robbed AND there were a lot of car break ins in the area AND he just happened to have temp tags on a car they just bought with their tax return (thereby implying they were not too well off). Awfully convenient that new purchase and those temp tags, as it rules out looking at their plate to see if they really were from the Johnson City neighborhood.

Let's see he was supposedly gainfully employed by a utility in rural Tennessee. That would indicate friends and relatives who will stick by their people under most all circumstances -- certainly enough to drive from Johnson City to Knoxville to go to their aid. And what about her friends and relatives?

It's just too much to swallow.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

Maybe you got suckered and maybe you proved to that there is still good to be found in helping someone in need. Lots of scams out there, and they often make us jaded toward the people who really need help. Then again there is the whole concept of whatever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me. . .

No matter what the turnout, I think you did the right thing and I hope that I would have acted the same way given those circumstances.

 

[NewToy]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

I had a girl that worked for me that told me how her estranged husband spent his visitation weekend with their kids. He would pick up the kids from "Ethel" on Saturday morning as agreed and promptly would take them to the nearest highway rest area, raise the hood on the car and start begging for money telling people how he was broke down, out of gas, hungry with two kids etc,etc. After he got a few hundred he'd drop the kids at his **** hole apartment and go get cracked up until he had to bring them back Sunday afternoon. He swore them to secrecy and this ruse went on for three weeks before the oldest kid (9 yrs) finally told mom what was going on. This guy was a real prince.


John

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( . . . promptly would take them to the nearest highway rest area, raise the hood on the car and start begging for money telling people how he was broke down, out of gas, hungry with two kids etc,etc. After he got a few hundred . . . )</font>

Man, that sounds like a lot more work than real work. It would have to take many hours to get a couple hundred dollars $5 at a time; or even $10.

Cliff

 

[Birdman]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

My vote is for a scam. I have been approached twice by people who look like what you describe and spew forth the same type of tale, sick/dead relative, car problems took all their money, from out of town, need food, need gas, got a check coming in a few days, hate to ask a stranger for help, blah blah blah. Both times I was in Ohio shopping, thought maybe it was the out of state plates on my truck that made them pick me out. I would not be surprised if the bandage on his neck was to hide a tatoo that would be easily identified.
I would gladly help someone if I knew they were truly in need, and have stopped many times for someone broken down on the side of the road when it is obvious they are truly broken down (flat tire, steam from the radiator, etc...)

 

[NIXON]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

Right,or wrong, I believe You did what You thought was the right thing. In Your mind ,You helped out someone in need of help. To be honest, I doubt that You will ever be repaid.(monitarily ) (sp) But , for whatever reason , those folks needed
some help,and You were kind enough to provide it . In My book, You're a Good person !

 

[YanmarFever]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

SnowRidge
You are right on the $$$. I have heard that scam many times already. In portland Oregon the beggars fight over freeway ramp locations as their turf. Hand around with a pair of binocs from a block away & you can see them pull their wad of cash out every now & then.
In Portland they even use fake pregnant women along side the road to get you to stop.
I was in the security bussiness for 18 yrs. I NEVER let my guard down in public, at least not Portland tweakerville Oregon.

 

[NIXON]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

Ernie, no doubt that there are scam artist out there. They are no doubt legion in their numbers . But there are also some that need help in this world . If I see someone that I think needs a hand, I'll lend it . If for some reason I've been scammed.. Well, some times it happens . I'm old enough,and been around enough to know an "act" when I see one. But, even if I miss it as being an act ,who does it hurt ? It only costs me . It's no burden to anyone else . You might even argue that they deserve payment for a decent performance /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Richard did the right thing.

 

[JerryG]

Re: \"S\" on my forehead for sucker??

Richard,
There may not be away to know if they were telling the truth or not. The one thing that is sure is that you did a good deed. No good deed is bad and if they were honest, then you are a better man for it. Sleep good tonight knowing that you tried to help someone that YOU thought was in need.