Money Scams!

[boosami]

I experienced a pretty good scam artist the other day... Classic beggar scam. Anyone else have any good real-life scam stories?

As I pulled into my driveway, a man pulled in after me and got out of his beat up car as I did. He asked if he could have a minute of my time. As I walked up to my door, he told me how his mother is sick in a local hospital and he is trying to get to see her. The car, borrowed from his sister, is running on empty and won't make it to the hospital 10 miles away. He had taken a greyhound from a nearby city into town. If I could loan him $10 for gas and give him a business card, he'd send a check to pay me back next week. He did some admirable acting and even had a piece of paper with directions written down on it and a handful of $1 bills. I told him it was almost believable but to keep working on it... and to leave my private property immediately. I bet half the people he talks to give him $10.

[sweeps]

In hindsight, might've been better to call the police if a stranger pulled up behind you in your driveway.

[MiikeB]

I might be tempted at that point to check his gas tank gauge and give him a few bucks if he wasnt lying about it.

My story:

I attend a lot of card game tournaments where there are quite a few younger people.

We were at a convention center in Baltimore, guy comes up to me and a friend and asks for a few bucks. We start talking to him and trying to find out some info, see if hes legit. We were actually about to give him a few bucks but as I leaned in to hand it to him I noticed quite a few dollars in his shirt pocket. I ask him how much is in there, he tries to just pull out a few ones but a couple tens and such fall to the floor. We tell him bounce. 5 minutes later I am in the lobby and talking to some younger kids, and I see one about to reach for his pocket. I go tell them stop, tell them the story, and go find security and have the guy removed.

I have sympathy for people truly just hard on the times but not for crap like that, scam artists make me sick.

[simpleyme]

I work at a mini mart and I get all kinds of scammers
evry single day

People who have sick loved ones and need me to buy something off them so they can have gas money come in all the time, working retail makes me hate people

one guy in particular had a old crappy camera that he wanted to sell me for 20 bucks and he would return and buy it back later, yea right , what a good way to get rid of your crap and make money. I am the manager but most do not know that and it pisses me of that these people feel great about steaing from low paid employees

scammers have no soul

[m3racer]

I would have pulled out my Glock and told him to beat it.

[boosami]

I would have pulled out my Glock and told him to beat it.

I left out that part out of my story to keep it PG

And it's a Sig, not a Glock

[Goldy1]

I would be scared if it was on my own property b/c he knows my address.

I have had people ask me for gas money at stations maybe twice in my life. I didn't give any. I don't know. I just keep to myself.
I have never been robbed etc. or had any close calls, but any fears I have ever had were in big cities.

If I go to Detroit for a concert or a sporting event, I am righti n the thick of crowds with police and security. I never venture anywhere else. It feels "safe"

I have felt vulnerable and a bit scared as a tourist in Chicago and even CLeveland a few times walking places I was not too familiar with.

I got off a subway in Chicago to go to some museum. At the platform, there were police holding 2 large scary dogs. I assume to sniff for drugs and protect the police. I had to cross the street(was with dh) to go get on a bus that wasn't there yet.(I was not near the Milion dollar mile anymore folks lol)
there were people across the street, locals. I was warned by a street man to not go over there or I would be "mugged" yikes. I waited until the bus arrived to cross. The street man escorted us across the street . He was nice and I gave him a couple bucks after he asked for it. (not that I trust anybody)
I think carrying a designer hand bag could be bad in a scene like that.

[disneysteve]

In hindsight, might've been better to call the police if a stranger pulled up behind you in your driveway.

Absolutely. If I pulled into my driveway and a strange car pulled in behind me and someone got out, I wouldn't get out of my car. I'd have my cell phone in hand ready to call 911. You're lucky that turned out okay.

[Broken Arrow]

Condition Orange. Off-hand on cellphone with 911 dialed in already. Main hand on the wheel, car idling, foot on brake, and ready to take off. If you're a weapon person, you'll want to clear your gun for draw. Believe it or not, but it's actually kind of tough to draw in a car, with clothing and seat belt getting in the way during a stressful situation. Exposing your gun to a potential assailant is a good idea at this point anyway. Turn and smirk, "This isn't a hold up is it? Please let me be then."

If someone is doing this right in your driveway, it has to be taken seriously. As mentioned before, they know where you live and what car you drive, so if it's foul, you want them to reconsider you as a target.

As for a good begging story, I used to know this guy who hung out at this particular major intersection with a crutch and a cast on his leg. The funny part is when "lunch break" comes, and he would take off his cast and crutches, and walk over to the McDonald's across the street.

[boosami]

I guess it didn't cross my mind that he might be hostile or have intent to rob me. I was already out of the car when he pulled in, and I thought he was just turning around (my home is on a corner than folks tend to use the driveway for that). The HOA doesn't allow me to put up a fence to prevent this, believe me I've tried...

[simpleyme]

I have a corner house as well and every one turns around in my drive I also get asked for directions every dang time I am outside

if I ran and called 911 every time a stranger approached me in my yard or drive I would call several times a week at least ;-)

[boosami]

I get a lot of direction requests as well. It's a corner house at a 4-way stop.

[GREENBACK]

I stopped at a light several years ago and a car with what looked to be older teenagers pulled up behind me. the driver gets out and walks toward my vehicle with his hands in his jacket(always watch their hands). I was an off-duty policeman at this time so I pulled out my pistol and stuck it out the window. I never pointed it at him but apparently left quite an impression. He immediately turned around and went back to the car. As I drove away I could see them arguing in the car. Not sure if they were looking for directions or if they wanted to carjack me but it smelled funny to me.

[disneysteve]

I have a corner house as well and every one turns around in my drive

I'd get fed up with that pretty quickly and just park our cars at the end of the driveway so people couldn't do that.

We live in the middle of the block and we still occasionally have people turn around in our driveway but not often enough to be a problem. It always concerns us momentarily when we see headlights pull into our driveway since nobody should be doing that but us.

[isthisused]

A guy pulls in to the gas station or convenience store and uses the bathroom then gets into his car to leave suddenly he comes back and begins looking around on the floor franticly. He then tells the attendant that he lost his wedding ring( or a ring his dad gave him ect ect) he says that the ring is not really valuable but it has great sentimental value. He says he has to get to work and if the attendant can find it hell be back after work and will give him $100 reward for the return of the ring and leaves. A while later, a different guy comes in and goes to the bathroom and comes out looking at a ring. Which he allows the attendant to talk him out of for about $50 bucks. of course the first guy never comes back.