Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have trusted stranger

36 replies

slippersandtea · 26/10/2018 19:45

Just been scammed into giving a bloke £40 after he gave me a long sob story about how he was the victim of a stag do prank and had been abandoned without his wallet. Then googled what he said was his mobile number and found a website with multiple other people who had been similarly conned.

Feel like a right mug now - think I'm going to blame the pregnancy hormones!

OP posts:
Houseonahill · 26/10/2018 19:53

Aw OP that's really shit Angry I hate people who take advantage of nice people they are scum. Don't let this put you off doing nice things though just be a bit more careful next time and use this as a lesson.

CandyCreeper · 26/10/2018 19:56

sorry but surprised anyone would fall for this Confused

Nopuns · 26/10/2018 19:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SputnikBear · 26/10/2018 19:59

I once met a teenage girl at night who was crying and saying she’d lost her bus fare. I gave her a fiver and she took my address so she could post it back. Never did. Probably a scam artist but maybe I did help a girl who needed to get home. I guess she must have needed the money regardless so I don’t feel too bad.

But the gypsy who sold me a lucky charm in the street then refused to hand over my change and relied on me not kicking up a fuss in public - I still begrudge that.

IncomingCannonFire · 26/10/2018 19:59

Doh. You could have got him to PayPal the money to you or other online banking app using you're phone. Try not to have large amounts of money to hand when you're out and about.
Next time direct them to the nearest police station or offer to pay for the taxi/bus directly. They usually scarper then.

Original poster
slippersandtea · 26/10/2018 20:06

I know I'm a moron thanks. Too embarrassed to tell anyone in real life.

Thanks for the suggestions - wish I'd been so quick thinking.

Ah well, Iesson learned.

OP posts:
pasturesgreen · 26/10/2018 20:08

That's a scam that's been doing the rounds for yonks my DM fell for it when she was walking toddler me to the park 30+ years ago.... Surprised anyone would still fall for it.

JohnCRaven · 26/10/2018 20:15

Don't feel bad. You did a wonderful thing for the right reasons. So he may be a scam artist. That's not on you that's on him. He obviously needed the money to ask/beg. Yes it's probably not what he said it was for but how can we ever guarantee money given is spent on what the giver intends?

UpstartCrow · 26/10/2018 20:18

OP, are you obviously pregnant, and are many of his other victims female?

BruegelTheElder · 26/10/2018 20:26

A simple rule is: if a stranger asks you for money, they're almost 100% likely to be lying.

Original poster
slippersandtea · 26/10/2018 20:28

No only 5 months and had a big coat on so don't think he would have known. And to be fair to him, I asked him if he was OK first. Can't tell what sex the others are - it's just on a phone number reporting website so no real names.

That's a lovely way to look at* it JohnCRaven. Going to forget about it now* and just count it as my good (albeit silly) deed for the month.

OP posts:
londonfeather · 26/10/2018 20:35

You acted out of kindness... he didn’t. Don’t be annoyed with yourself.

kaytee87 · 26/10/2018 20:40

You were trying to do something nice, don't be annoyed at yourself. 
You're obviously a caring person to stop and help a complete stranger in the street.

littlestrawby · 26/10/2018 20:41

I got pranked recently by a pair on my doorstep. They opened by saying their brother had recently died of cystic fibrosis and so they were doing a charity skydive to raise money for the cause.

They seemed a bit dodgy but I had no reason to believe they weren't telling the truth, and they had big spreadsheet of other 'donors' that they filled in with my details when I said I'd donate. I did have the foresight to ask if they had a justgiving page for me to donate online to but I allowed myself to be fobbed off with a ridiculous reason as to why they'd rather collect in person instead!

I half knew they were scamming me but gave them £20 anyway, in case it was genuine regretted it immediately after

When DH got home from work he was furious and took to the streets to hunt them down and demand our money back! He didn't find them, thank goodness.

AquarianSquirrel · 26/10/2018 20:49

Same thing happened to me recently but it was a crying woman that got me haha. Like to think the best of people but you live and learn x

TeddybearBaby · 26/10/2018 20:50

You’ve done a kind thing and you’ve managed to make some MN’s feel superior cos they’re perfect and never make any bad decisions / mistakes. You’re doing great work 😉.

Don’t beat yourself up for being kind please. There are too many know it all, perfect types around.

Ok you’ve made a mistake today but you’ll learn from it and you were coming from a good place. It’s lucky I don’t have £40 or I’d probably do the same! 💐

XingMing · 26/10/2018 20:52

DS stopped at a traffic accident and suggested an accident triangle would be a good idea. Offered his, and the person promised to return it.
Guess what?

noworklifebalance · 26/10/2018 20:53

My aunt decades ago, over here for a few months from a foreign country, lost a her tube ticket on the underground and had to ask strangers for money so she could buy another ticket. Luckily some people helped her.
Don't feel bad and don't let that bastard diminish your compassionate side.

Haberpop · 26/10/2018 20:54

You are one of life's good people, he isn't. Karma will repay you both in kind Flowers

Sethis · 26/10/2018 20:55

Simple rule to live by:

Never give cash.

If they need money for food, buy them food.

If they need a bus ticket, buy them a bus ticket.

If they need a taxi, call them a taxi.

If they need to make a phone call, go with them to a telephone box and put the change in the phone. (Obviously never, ever give anyone your mobile or let them into your house)

That way you can be certain that if they needed help, you gave them help. If they are lying, it becomes apparent pretty damn fast. Just remember to never give cash and you'll be grand. Sucks that it happened to you though.

Backstabbath · 26/10/2018 20:55

Please don't feel bad. You have a kind heart that's all that matters.

Racecardriver · 26/10/2018 20:56

I just ignore strangers when they try to talk to me after too many of these kinds of requests. Recently had a dude come on the tube claiming to be a street poet because he didn’t want to beg and then start pickup by on young women (its only ever young women that give money to these guys) when one wanted to pay him for his performance.

WorraLiberty · 26/10/2018 20:56

Put the phone number on here OP, so no-one else gets duped by him.

It'll help because this is a public forum, so others can find it when they Google.

Tillytrotter123 · 26/10/2018 20:56

Sorry to hear he wasn’t genuine but you acted out of kindness. I gave someone money for petrol and he never posted it back, a few days later my dad lost his wallet, it was posted straight back to him. It’s good karma I think and you are a good person. Don’t feel silly.

hibbledibble · 26/10/2018 21:01

Strangers asking for money for various reasons is usually a scam.

I live in London so am suspicious by default and never give. I have heard various stories, but it is a well known scam.

I have helped those who haven't asked for help eg an old person who was didn't have enough money for a cup of tea

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread