Didn't help a guy out yesterday.

[tatteredpotato]

So I'm driving down the street and as I'm pulling up to a red light, the car next to me honks. I look over and theres a guy in a SUV leaning over his passenger seat trying to get my attention. So I turn down the Ke$ha I have blasting to hear what he needs. He pretty much tells me he needs help in an embarrassing situation which involves a lost debit card and an 1/8th of a tank of gas. He gives a longer story but essentially he is asking if I can spot him some money for gas and he can show me his license and stuff.

Now it seemed kind of fishy so I told him I didn't have cash and had to get somewhere and I was sorry, and I could see what looked like genuine frustration is his eyes at that point. Pretty much right as I said "no" the light turned green and he drove off, but I kept debating in my mind whether he was in real need.

I figure it was a pretty nice car (good shape, <5 years old, etc) and they guy didn't look like a thug. I probably could have had him follow me to a gas station and swiped a CC personally so he wouldn't be able to take money and run and get some information off his License to pay me back, but on the other hand it seemed odd that he would only carry his Debit Card and no other Credit Card. He obviously had his wallet since he offered to show ID.

I just finished up my BE in EE and am starting grad school in the fall, so I'm not like swimming in cash at this point in my life, but I had a feeling he was actually in need and not just trying to con me out of cash.

Cliffs:
Guy asked me to spot him some gas money.
I said no.
I felt bad.

 

[Gibson486]

I stopped giving people money. In this day and age, you cannot trust anyone.

 

[yllus]

Lost debit card my ass. I doubt it was anything but a scam.

 

[dank69]

How do you think he bought that nice SUV when he has no job?

 

[boomerang]

If you're really feeling guilty about this, you can PayPal me say, $35 right now. You'll sleep better.

 

[dpodblood]

Could have been legit, but I would have done the same thing. You just can't trust people whether they look like a thug or not.

 

[Modelworks]

Never give cash. Instead tell him , okay I'll help you out, lets go to the gas station over here and I will let you get $5 worth . Then get his license plate and drivers license #.

I help out people often, like people asking for money for food outside stores. One guy said he was starving so I offered him a meal I had just bought from the deli. He refused said he didn't have anything to drink. I offered to goto the vending machine and get him something, he still said cash would be better, he didn't want to take food from me, but cash was okay . I walked off telling him then you are not hungry.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Never give cash. Instead tell him , okay I'll help you out, lets go to the gas station over here and I will let you get $5 worth . Then get his license plate and drivers license #.

I help out people often, like people asking for money for food outside stores. One guy said he was starving so I offered him a meal I had just bought from the deli. He refused said he didn't have anything to drink. I offered to goto the vending machine and get him something, he still said cash would be better, he didn't want to take food from me, but cash was okay . I walked off telling him then you are not hungry.

If I would have done anything, I would have gone with him to the nearest station. It's definitely a good way to root out the people who's "food/bus money" always ends up being spent on booze.

 

[gorcorps]

I wouldn't either. I just tell them I don't have any cash, which is usually true, but I still use it as an excuse more than anything.

 

[sourceninja]

These guys do scams like that all time time around here. They are usually white and dressed well enough to not look like criminals.

My favorite was this guy who approached me as I walked out of a restaurant. He wanted some money for gas to get back to a town about 50 miles away. Apparently he had drove out here to visit her but she broke up with him and he didn't have the cash to pay for his gas home. I have been conditioned to always turn down beggars, so I said no.

2 weeks laster I see the same guy in the same parking lot telling them same story to a older couple. I approach and tell them that he must be really really poor because he has been stuck in this parking lot for 2 weeks without the gas money to get home. The guy got really upset at me for busting him out and became verbally abusive. Apparently the restaurant staff had been waiting for him to do something illegal because the cops were there before I even know what was going on.

They then arrested him for disorderly conduct and trespassing.

 

[keird]

<snip>

That is awesome.

 

[SP33Demon]

Just ask him: "Do I look like a fcking bank? No? Then leave me alone." Usually works.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Who the hell loses their debit card, while still not losing their ID? If your wallet gets lost/stolen, you lose both.

If you were in a situation with 1/8 a tank of gas and no $$$, would you drive home? Call somebody you know to borrow cash? Or Ask strangers in other cars?

This guy is either moron or scammer. I woulda offered him a cigarette for his health.

 

[Krazy4Real]

These guys do scams like that all time time around here. They are usually white and dressed well enough to not look like criminals.

My favorite was this guy who approached me as I walked out of a restaurant. He wanted some money for gas to get back to a town about 50 miles away. Apparently he had drove out here to visit her but she broke up with him and he didn't have the cash to pay for his gas home. I have been conditioned to always turn down beggars, so I said no.

2 weeks laster I see the same guy in the same parking lot telling them same story to a older couple. I approach and tell them that he must be really really poor because he has been stuck in this parking lot for 2 weeks without the gas money to get home. The guy got really upset at me for busting him out and became verbally abusive. Apparently the restaurant staff had been waiting for him to do something illegal because the cops were there before I even know what was going on.

They then arrested him for disorderly conduct and trespassing.

:awe:

 

[tatteredpotato]

I woulda offered him a cigarette for his health.

Unfortunately I was fresh out, so no consolation prize for him.

 

[dank69]

Who the hell loses their debit card, while still not losing their ID? If your wallet gets lost/stolen, you lose both.

If you were in a situation with 1/8 a tank of gas and no $$$, would you drive home? Call somebody you know to borrow cash? Or Ask strangers in other cars?

This guy is either moron or scammer. I woulda offered him a cigarette for his health.

Or drive to the bank? Get cash and a new card. There is no doubt in my mind it was a scam.

 

[Squisher]

I probably could have had him follow me to a gas station and swiped a CC personally so he wouldn't be able to take money and run

So, if he had a credit card sniffer that would lift your numbers as you swiped, he'd have your numbers and because he'd want to pay you back you'd give him your name, address, and maybe a phone number. Gee, maybe he was a recruiter that could offer you a job and would only need your SS# to hook you up.

 

[thepd7]

haha great story sourceninja

 

[thepd7]

So, if he had a credit card sniffer that would lift your numbers as you swiped, he'd have your numbers and because he'd want to pay you back you'd give him your name, address, and maybe a phone number. Gee, maybe he was a recruiter that could offer you a job and would only need your SS# to hook you up.

he would install the sniffer at the gas station before the OP got there? I'm confused what you are trying to say here.

 

[Squisher]

he would install the sniffer at the gas station before the OP got there? I'm confused what you are trying to say here.

From what I've heard some sniffers are portable and can lift the numbers with no physical connection to a network.

 

[ixelion]

Sometimes people will come up to me with elaborate stories just to give them a couple bucks, I figured hey, if their going through all this trouble for a few bucks might as well give it to them even if they are scamming.

 

[gorcorps]

Sometimes people will come up to me with elaborate stories just to give them a couple bucks, I figured hey, if their going through all this trouble for a few bucks might as well give it to them even if they are scamming.

It's people like you that keep these guys scamming. Why the fuck would you encourage such slimey and annoying behavior? "Congrats, you've inconvenienced me and lied right to my face. Here's a reward."

 

[Modelworks]

From what I've heard some sniffers are portable and can lift the numbers with no physical connection to a network.

Stop watching CSI

 

[darkxshade]

Wouldn't it be more practical to state his case to the owner of the gas station and failing that ask help from people pumping gas at the station? I see no reason other than scam if you're flagging people down at red lights.

 

[Kev]

Never give cash. Instead tell him , okay I'll help you out, lets go to the gas station over here and I will let you get $5 worth . Then get his license plate and drivers license #.

I help out people often, like people asking for money for food outside stores. One guy said he was starving so I offered him a meal I had just bought from the deli. He refused said he didn't have anything to drink. I offered to goto the vending machine and get him something, he still said cash would be better, he didn't want to take food from me, but cash was okay . I walked off telling him then you are not hungry.

I guess you've never lived in a big city. All these bums want is money for crack.