Old Scams Still Work
Posted by ALmod on July 10, 2007
Yesterday, my husband and I went out to eat with his family for his sister’s birthday. Afterward, we pulled into the parking lot of the shopping center across the street so that we could get out and walk off our dinner. Since my toddler had a death grip on my bracelet, I stayed in the car to entertain her while my husband retrieved the umbrella stroller from the trunk. That’s when I saw them.
A woman and what appeared to be her teenage son approached my husband. Call me cynical, but I knew what was about to happen even though I couldn’t hear the conversation. I shook my head at my husband, hoping he’d see me. He didn’t, and I watched in horror as he pulled out his wallet and handed a $10 bill to the lady.
I asked him what her story was. “She didn’t have any cash to buy gas.”
“Was her wallet stolen?”
“She didn’t say.”
“Why did she want cash? The gas stations take credit/debit. There’s an ATM at the bottom of the hill…”
I made the observation that the shopping center parking lot was located on top of a hill that was an odd location for anyone needing gas. Rather, it would be more logical for someone to address people in the parking lot at the bottom of the hill, which happened to be very close to several gas stations. That is, if they didn’t approach people in the parking lot of the gas stations themselves. Why would they make the extra effort to hike or drive up the hill to the (higher end) shopping center parking lot? He’d been the victim of a very old scam.
The person approaches in an area (usually a restaurant or shopping center or church parking lot) where consumers typically carries cash. They have some story about why they need some random item, usually gas or food or a hotel room, and ask for cash.
I can’t say this enough. Do not give them cash. Instead, if you’d like to help, offer non-monetary assistance. In many cases, these people will carry weapons, so don’t offer them a ride. You can offer to purchase a meal for them or purchase some gas for them. You can pay for a hotel room, but have the person register with their own personal information. (Never give out your personal information to a complete stranger.) Local police departments will offer assistance to stranded motorists. If you are turned down, it is a scam. It’s an easy way to be a good Samaritan without being a sucker and an easy mark.
The good news is that most of these scammers are not too bright. Their stories often do not add up, and this particular person actually solicited our car, which clearly displayed a Fraternal Order of Police tag. Most cars displaying the tag are owned by police officers.
