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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is a scam?

104 replies

Abi35 · 22/01/2018 13:17

Just to be clear, this isn’t an anti-homeless people/beggars post, I’m just wondering whether this in particular is a scam of some sort.

My daughter is at university in central London, and to get there from her halls she walks down the Kingsway, where there is a big four way junction. A lot of pedestrians gather at this junction waiting to be able to cross.

She says that sometimes, while she’s waiting to cross the road, a woman will come up to her, address her as ‘sister’, and either beg her for money or ask her to buy her an Oyster card. This lady said she needed to get to Sevenoaks.

It’s not always the same woman, but they’re always Eastern European and aged about 40-60 (she thinks), and are always wearing a children’s rucksack. Sometimes there’s only 1, sometimes there’s a group.

My daughter does give change to homeless people, but she feels very uncomfortable when these women approach her.

AIBU to think it’s an organised scam, or are they genuinely in need?

OP posts:
lookingforthecorkscrew · 22/01/2018 14:19

She’ll get used to it OP. People say that London commuters are mean, this is why. It’s not mean, it’s game face.

justforthisthread101 · 22/01/2018 14:22

I think it probably is a scam. Particularly as that's a very busy junction with lots of tourists coming out blinking from the tube and trying to figure out which direction they need to go for Covent Garden.

It happens a lot. I watched the same poor soul on my train line looking for money for a hostel for years and years. A few years ago, DH was stopped by a fella looking to borrow his mobile as he'd run out of credit. Both of us thought something was a bit odd and DH, to his credit, offered the guy change for a payphone (there was one in sight) instead. He made off sharpish - I don't think that brick of a BlackBerry would have been seen again if DH had handed it over.

I'd tell her to smile nicely and move on OP.

Aeroflotgirl · 22/01/2018 14:23

I cannot believe the naievety of people on here too, if you want to give money to the homeless, I would make a regular donation to a homeless charity, not give to individuals. Yes they could be distracting her, I have seen this method used by people to pickpocket. If she is concerned she can contact 101.

justforthisthread101 · 22/01/2018 14:24

She’ll get used to it OP. People say that London commuters are mean, this is why. It’s not mean, it’s game face.

^^this

I equally have a thousand stories of when London commuters have been brilliant. Not least when I decided to faint from a standing position on a train into Victoria. Mildly embarrassing....and taught me that really, breakfast is not an optional extra!

Aeroflotgirl · 22/01/2018 14:26

Unfortunately not everyone in this world is decent and honest, and who they say they are, you have to be sensible and have your wits about you.

Aeroflotgirl · 22/01/2018 14:30

I heard from a spokesperson for a homeless charity on tv (can't remember which one), they said that if you want to give to the homeless, donate to a homeless charity, as the money you give them does not always go on food or to help them, or people aren;t always who they say they are.

Commuterface · 22/01/2018 14:32

I work a few hundred yards from where you are describing. I find a quick shake of the head and a loud “no” usually works.

Trilllllian · 22/01/2018 14:33

Yes it is a scam - and they might be genuinely in need to be part of it - but I don't for one minute think it's them that gets all the money! People Trafficking.....

AssassinatedBeauty · 22/01/2018 14:33

Not a single poster on this thread has said that these types of people are genuinely asking for money. Every single person has said not to give money and to give to charity instead. What about that is naive?

Viviennemary · 22/01/2018 14:35

It's begging at best. An organised scam or an excuse to pickpocket is more likely.

AJPTaylor · 22/01/2018 14:36

Scam.
She needs to perfect the middle distance stare and resting bitch face.

RedDogsBeg · 22/01/2018 14:37

There was just the one Assasinated, one the first page who seems to have disappeared now.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/01/2018 14:37

I would worry that it's a cover for another member of the gang to be pick pocketing. I believe that happens in Barcelona a lot but it could have migrated to London I guess

Eltonjohnssyrup · 22/01/2018 14:40

TheForeigner was insisting it was genuine and there was no evidence it was a scam except for hearsay.

Flowerpot1234 · 22/01/2018 14:40

Is this a joke?

Of course it's a scam. Sometimes when she's waiting at the junction... the woman always addresses her as sister... sometimes there are a few sometimes there is 1...

Most crime in London is performed by East European gangs. Yes it's a scam. No don't give them a penny. No, Mayor Khan is doing sweet FA about it.

RoseWhiteTips · 22/01/2018 14:40

Happens in all cities - especially in Europe - not just London! They are exactly as the OP describes. In Venice they used to put in pretty convincing acts. We saw one lie pathetically, as if minus a limb, across a main staircase from the Bridge of Sighs.

Later on in the afternoon, we saw a whole group gathering “after work”, as it were. The limbless woman was there too but miraculously no longer crippled. Hmmm

RoseWhiteTips · 22/01/2018 14:41

...put on pretty convincing acts...

wibblywobblywoo · 22/01/2018 14:42

No pithy comeback yet Theforeigner....or are you still reading all of Elton's links...... Grin

OP, of course it's a scam and at best your DD will just lose whatever money she hands over, but do tell her to be very wary at all times in situations like this, crowds, busy road, etc etc as the one speaking to her, maybe grabbing her arm or blocking her path will be the decoy for the one pickpocketing her...... forewarned is forearmed.

DullAndOld · 22/01/2018 14:44

" Londoners tend to ignore beggars "

they really don't you know. Have you any idea how much a beggar makes at eg Blackfriars, not to mention bags of food.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 22/01/2018 14:45

Well fair enough, I suppose it is a scam in that they are (clearly) lying to get money!

I just meant it probably isn't a more sinister scam where they are planning to mob the OP's daughter, or targeting her as an individual. They are just professional beggars doing what professional beggars do.

DullAndOld · 22/01/2018 14:46

I would worry about being jostled and then pickpocketed though.
But there is no need for this superior "eww 'Londoners' do this or that".

AssassinatedBeauty · 22/01/2018 14:46

@theForeigner wasn't insisting that it was genuine, just debating whether it is always/normally part of an organized group. I don't think anyone here thinks these people actually want the money for a travel card.

Queeniebed · 22/01/2018 14:47

Distraction and probably want to know where her purse is

AttilaTheMeerkat · 22/01/2018 14:47

I used to work around there and what you DD is describing here is a scam by people who work for very well organised criminal gangs. Do advise her not to hand over any more money.

ronniescue · 22/01/2018 14:48

It's not a scam. They are beggars.

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