To regret helping a stranger

[regrethelp]

I was stopped by a lady in a 2 seater convertible that she forgot her purse in a building nearby. Building was locked and she had not enough fuel to drive all the way home (outside London).
She wanted money for fuel. She drove me to nearby ATM machine and I withdrew money to lend her.
She told me she is an artist, I can find her online. Only told me her first name. I trusted her and didn't check details. She said she comes to my area 2 times a week to work on a stained glass project.
She promised to call in 3 hours. It's been over 2 days I haven't heard from her.
I sent her text and called her and got no response (her number is valid, she gave me missed call for me to have her number).
I feel stupid. Amount is not that big (£40) but I told her politely I am out of work and would need money back.
I usually help people (friends/family)going out of my way and most times I have found those people unappreciative.
I don't want to chase the lady but I feel very upset for being taken advantage one more time. I am feeling worse also because I am in abusive relationship and already feel pretty depressed.

SheCameFromGreeceSheHadaThirst

I haven't lied and I am shocked that people like you are trying so hard to proving themselves superior/smarter that they can't read that someone was reaching out for emotional support.

You've spectacularly misunderstood, OP - you are under the misapprehension that I referred to you as a liar. I did not. This was a reference to another poster as she attributed something to me that I did not say. Their comments have since been deleted by MNHQ as they sailed very close to personal attacks and were based on their own fabrications.

So you're missing several deleted comments on the thread, and misreading my response to those deleted comments as being directed towards you. Well done.

And I don't think you've lied. Sadly, I completely believe that you were taken in by a bullshitter with a flimsy sob story

If you are very smart and believe in evidences than show me where I asked for money.

Are you misreading everything on purpose? The comment you quoted was directed at the ridiculous post suggesting a whip-round to reimburse you.

There are plenty of posters on this thread calling you a troll. Perhaps you should direct your defensiveness towards them instead.

Work on honing your critical appraisal skills, OP. It'll help you the next time a stranger attempts to shamelessly fleece you of the contents of your bank account

Jesus. I hate when threads get pulled by the OP but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did from the comments here.

Bloody hell there are some vile posts on here. I am actually shocked at people's callousness. Do you understand anything about how being in am abusive relationship can wear down your boundaries and leave you vulnerable?

I hope that you are ok OP. Please do not take some of these posts to heart, some people are just angry and unhappy and like to take it out on others.

Sorry this has happened OP. The money is long gone. 😔 I'm sorry you were scammed when you obviously wasn't in a position to help but did anyway. Think of it as karma. Something good will happen when you don't expect it. I'd defo write off the money though.

💐

I have no idea why you aren't reporting it to the Police. I would straightaway. You have her mobile number. That's traceable.

And I would tell her that's what you are doing.

OP
You are very articulate and I love the way you respond to the aggressive posters.

I understand that you simply wanted a moan and a bit of support

Starcrossedseahorse - depends which posts you are referring to. Only seen one poster being unnecessarily harsh, no need. The rest though? Sorry, but if you're lumping in those saying FFS, never get in a stranger's car, what are you thinking? It needs saying.
Anyone can be scammed, but you need to keep yourself safe too and not get in stranger's cars. I tell my kids this.

Does anyone remember the two guys that did a series on BBC3?
They were ex street scammers if I remember correctly. They had a scam for everything.
Some of them very basic, others quite sophisticated.
These guys could get money out of a multiple murderer with a simple sob story.

The real hustle?

There's quite a famous glass artist named Vanessa Cutler. I'm guessing that's who she was pretending to be.

Sorry OP, but you did a very silly thing. She had a phone; she could have sent you the money by PayPal there and then. Next time, think it through and stop trying to people please. Keep your wits about you.

OP, on the off chance she is just a chancer rather than an out and out scammer have you tried googling her? Presumably you would recognise her if you saw a photo of her.
I'd wonder if rather than a deliberate scam it was more of an opportunistic thing. Perhaps It's possible she gave you her correct name and then, when she saw you were so gullible (Sorry 😌) decided to scam you.

I'd at least try googling. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@SummerGems

She's too young. That's why I said she'd probably been pretending. You might want to report your post and have her number taken off this site.

The nastiness on this thread is remarkable. Why on earth do some of you care so much?

I don’t think people are being nasty just worried! I think it’s unusual as an adult to think it’s ok to get in to a car with a stranger. That’s why is seems we are being harsh.

Could actually help the OP in the future.

I think she’s got the message.

You sound lovely OP. Why so many people want to attack you for being kind and trusting and not the criminal who has robbed you is beyond me.
Obviously you have no choice but it’s sad that you have to be mistrustful and suspicious of absolutely everyone.