Would you give $ to a stranger to buy gas?

[Anonymous]

There was a guy who kept doing this around Arlington about a year ago. He actually came up to me when I was with my kids at a local playground and told me this long story about how he was trying to get back to NC to see his sick father. I did give him $$ and felt sort of stupid afterwards because I realized it was a scam, but he freaked me out since there was no one around except my kids and me and I just wanted him to go away.

I like the idea of the paying for 2 gallons the other PP had!

[Anonymous]

I'd not give them money, but I'd pay directly for their gas.

[Anonymous]

only donate through vetted channels like churches and charities. No one should ever directly ask anyone for a handout because there are proper channels for distributing assistance. Anyone that does ask for it directly from someone else 9 out of 10 times its a scam

[Anonymous]

You must not actually live in DC.

I am approached EVERY time I'm at my DC gas station. By the same guy. He always wants "money for his car"

It's totally a scam.

On the brightside, at least you have a positive outlook on live from living in a place where you don't get hit up for money by the SAME guy every three weeks.

[Anonymous]

Never happened to me but I would probably give $5.00 and move on. I would feel better that maybe I did a good deed. It would be worth the money.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I actually went into the service station and ask the attendant to charge $5.00 on by debit card so that he can pump $5.00 of gas. He did not give me a 'story' and I didn't ask for one. The only thing that bothered me a bit is that I saw his wife (or female companion) sitting in the passenger seat playing on her iPhone.

I don't mind helping someone out at all and I guess I'm a big sucker for things like that. I always give to homeless people on the street etc. But overall I'm a very frugal person (our entire family is like that) and we don't own anything fancy. We drive old cars, we have very basic cell phones, we own a small town home etc., no fancy tv's, no Wii or Playstation etc. So this bothered me a bit, but I guess it is really none of my business what other people do with their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once I accidentally locked myself out of my apartment building in NYC - didn't even have my glasses and before cell phones. Took me a long time to find someone to lend me 25 cents so I could call my roommate. Totally sucked.

Did you pay the quarter back with interest?

[Anonymous]

I once got stopped by a guy on the street in NW. Very sharply dressed. Asked me for money to go buy an ID because he was on his way to a job interview *after just beling released from prison where he had been for 17 years* and needed the ID for the job. I'm sure it was a scam but I was impressed by his presentation (professionally dressed, honest about prison) so gave him the cash I had on me. I'm not ashamed to admit I was also a little intimidated by the fact that he had just gotten out of prison.

[Anonymous]

Of course it's a scam OP.

[Anonymous]

There have been MULTIPLE threads on this and people outside of CVS. Its a SCAM!

No I would not. I would rather give my money to someone who appeared homeless on the street corner then these scam artists.

And for the person who really is in trouble and in need of gas its sad these con artists ruin it for the people who did forget their wallet or have an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Total scam - there were two adults and the didn't have a functional credit card/debit card or $5 between them?

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked for money at the metro, and I'll see that person pull out his/her own money to buy a card after a minute or so of not getting money from someone else.

[Anonymous]

Well, I didn't give him the actual $$$, but I put $5 on the gas pump.

[Anonymous]

Those giving money to these scam artists are such softies. Do you all feel good about giving money to someone who is obviously scamming you and laughing as soon as you walk off.
PP, that gave money to a guy at the gas station and then saw his companion on her Iphone, why wouldn't you be pissed? Maybe it's none of your business how they spend their money but it sure becomes your business when you give them your hard earned money to have fun with.

I'm sure I'll get heat for this but I just don't see how you all keep falling for the same scenario when there have been mulitple threads on this very topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once got stopped by a guy on the street in NW. Very sharply dressed. Asked me for money to go buy an ID because he was on his way to a job interview *after just beling released from prison where he had been for 17 years* and needed the ID for the job. I'm sure it was a scam but I was impressed by his presentation (professionally dressed, honest about prison) so gave him the cash I had on me. I'm not ashamed to admit I was also a little intimidated by the fact that he had just gotten out of prison.

What is an ID?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once got stopped by a guy on the street in NW. Very sharply dressed. Asked me for money to go buy an ID because he was on his way to a job interview *after just beling released from prison where he had been for 17 years* and needed the ID for the job. I'm sure it was a scam but I was impressed by his presentation (professionally dressed, honest about prison) so gave him the cash I had on me. I'm not ashamed to admit I was also a little intimidated by the fact that he had just gotten out of prison.

What is an ID?

Identification. Like a state-issued one (not a Drivers License but something similar)