Anonymous wrote:I'm so fucking pissed. Scratch that, I'm actually really sad because the following incident will make me a cold unfeeling person.

So I walked out of a certain CVS and a man approached me and started telling me a story about how he is a mechanic and he left his phone and wallet in a car of his that broke down a few miles up the road. Yes alarm bells went off, but he seemed so believable and sincere. So I asked him what he needed. He said he need a few dollars to take a bus back to Md. I had 20 in cash and gave it to him. He thanked me profusely and again seemed so genuine and I really felt good about helping someone who seemed down on his luck, because I've been there when we were growing up. Well I just decided to drive back by the CVS after about 5 minutes just because I wanted to make sure he was all right and what did I see, the guy doing the same act not too far away from the CVS.

I would have confronted him and got my 20 back.

only donate to the needy through vetted channels like a church or charity

Someone once told DH and I he was out of gas. We went up to him a few minutes later and offered him $10 cash. He said he would mail us the $, he never did. I don't know if it was a scam, but like a PP said, I'm glad to be trusting and a kind person then a cynic.

Anonymous wrote:You still get the karma points OP!

this!

Anonymous wrote:Totally sucks--but imagine if you'd said no and later read in the paper that he got hit by a car while waiting by his car, or something. Better to be kind-hearted and trusting once in a while rather than cynical all the time.

I agree.

When I was in college I was at a gas station and approached by a girl about my age. It was late--probably like 1 or 2 in the morning on a Saturday or Sunday. I had just heard her sorta arguing with the gas station clerk, but couldn't hear what exactly was said. Che told me that she had been at a party (this was in L.A. very close to UCLA) and someone had stolen her wallet and she just needed about $10 for gas to drive home to Orange County. She said she had her checkbook with her and could write me a check for $20 to compensate me.

I weighed my options; would I rather feel like a schmuck for getting scammed out of $10, or would I spend the rest of my life wondering if I had left some other college girl like me stranded with no way to get home....I figured I'd rather feel like a fool than feel guilt so I gave her the $10--and she did immediately go to the cashier and put $10 worth of gas in her car. Still it could have just been a way for her to get free gas, I guess?

I didn't take her check though...if I deposited it and it was a bad check, my bank would have charged me a bunch of fees and it just wasn't worth the risk.

OP, even if his "story" wasn't true, he was still someone who needed the money. It's not like a tax accountant who lives in Bethesda and has a lawn service just felt like standing outside of CVS asking for money. So you did a good deed in my book in any case and hopefully won't stop trying to help people who need it.

You still get the karma points OP!

In the end OP you have awesome karma and he will not. I know it sucks but you are a great person!

There's nothing wrong in being nice - as long as you're not nice TOO often!

shit happens to good people

And although the scam artist is an ass, his life must suck!

Eh, you gave someone 20 bucks. Thing is, he probably needed it. I'm not saying what he did was right, but I wouldn't give it another thought OP.

Anonymous wrote:Totally sucks--but imagine if you'd said no and later read in the paper that he got hit by a car while waiting by his car, or something. Better to be kind-hearted and trusting once in a while rather than cynical all the time.

I agree with this. I would rather help someone out and find out I was scammed, then not help someone out and find out something bad happened to them and I could have helped. I am a believer of pay it forward and I try to see the best in people rather than the worst. I know that makes me a sucker, but I have not been truly harmed financially by living this way.

This is a very old scam, OP. But better to be the generous one than the coldhearted one.

Totally sucks--but imagine if you'd said no and later read in the paper that he got hit by a car while waiting by his car, or something. Better to be kind-hearted and trusting once in a while rather than cynical all the time.

It is sad that we have to be so careful about giving. A few nights ago I was approached by a elderly woman and her very tall mentally challenged son. The woman asked for a few dollars for a sandwich. I gave her a few bucks. I felt pretty sure that she was for real, but who knows? I am going to start carrying a few $5 Mcdonalds gift cards and start giving those to people who ask for money for food.

I'm so fucking pissed. Scratch that, I'm actually really sad because the following incident will make me a cold unfeeling person.

So I walked out of a certain CVS and a man approached me and started telling me a story about how he is a mechanic and he left his phone and wallet in a car of his that broke down a few miles up the road. Yes alarm bells went off, but he seemed so believable and sincere. So I asked him what he needed. He said he need a few dollars to take a bus back to Md. I had 20 in cash and gave it to him. He thanked me profusely and again seemed so genuine and I really felt good about helping someone who seemed down on his luck, because I've been there when we were growing up. Well I just decided to drive back by the CVS after about 5 minutes just because I wanted to make sure he was all right and what did I see, the guy doing the same act not too far away from the CVS.