Did we get scammed by a fake petition in a Spanish DIY shop?

[Mydogisagentleman]

DH and I went to the Spanish equivalent of B&Q for a drill.
There was a vast selection and wle were having a discussion about the merits of corded or cordless.
A young woman approached us with a clipboard, indicated that we should read it and stepped back.
Essentially it explained that she is deaf and 'dumb,' and had a petition about getting a healing space where similarly 'afflicted' people could meet.
DH is a proper soft touch, signed it and she tapped in the last column for donations.
He asked me if I had any cash. I checked and said only €20. He asked if I had smaller. No.
He gave her the note and she walked away.
15 seconds later I said how do we know she was genuine.
L8ng story short, he found her again and asked her (Google phone translate) for her ID.
She ran away.
I am properly missed off. It's not so much the money, more our gullibility.

Stupid title. I know that we did

Sorry OP. It's a well known scam. At least it was only £20

But what a Charlie I feel.
I spoke to the security officer-"wasn't expecting a refund, but to give them a heads up.
Apparently it's well known and they visit regularly looking for foreigners.
I asked why they were allowed.
Seemingly they might want a new bathroom.
As you say, its a small amount and we can afford it. But smarts though

Thanks for the warning, wonder if it's only in Spain.

Not only in Spain.
I've seen the same scam in Berlin, in more touristy parts such as near Unter den Linden and Alexanderplatz, though there they were approaching tourists out in the open, not inside a business.

Not only in Spain. I got caught by this one, it was supposedly a petition to open a centre for deaf people. I signed the petition and then she wanted a donation... I only had a euro cash on me, which I said, and she said it was a minimum 10E donation, so at that point the penny dropped that it was best dubious and at worst a scam. I said, Well I don't have 10E, and she said, You can give me dollars.

Yeah a well known scam, we had them come into our hotel complex in Spain and try to get people. They got swiftly chased away by staff.

The do this in France a lot too!

I had exactly the same in Paris last summer!
Didn’t sign or donate though.

This happens in Paris. I was ready to say no and walk away and luckily the pen was not working so thst made it even easier.

One approached us in Spain. I said no to signing the petition and he got really nasty, shouting at us. Obviously just pretending to be deaf, but could shout really clearly. Staff came out of shop and chased him.

Happened to me about 15 years ago in Spain too. Came up to me while I was sitting inside a cafe and put the clipboard down. I was about to sign when the staff chased them off. They put the clipboard over my purse and I reckon they would have picked that up too if they hadn’t been thrown out.
don’t worry, you were being kind.

I have seen this in Italy, think it was Florence.

It was for a drug rehabilitation centre.

There are scams like this all over continental Europe especially if you are near a border, because the gangs which do it just border hop so the police can't easily chase them. I teach English abroad and one of my students was a retired police officer. They use the disability/rehab line because they know that most white/Western tourists from English speaking countries aren't used to seeing that kind of thing and will be embarrassed to look too closely and be sceptical about it. The locals usually are aware and avoid.

There is a bloke who walks around my local city with a child's sized crutch because an adult walking with such a small crutch will have a very exaggerated hobble. Once you know what to look out for you can spot it a mile off. Most EU countries have a functioning healthcare and welfare system, so disabled people do not need to beg on the streets as a rule. Be careful.

We had something similar in Rome, can’t remember the “cause” but I was annoyed with DH that he didn’t walk away like I was!

I mean that was a bit naive of you, but you'll know for next time.

I had the same thing happen to me in Paris earlier today. I avoided the woman