AIBU to feel guilty ?

[helpmetoseeagain]

Hello,

This morning, after dropping up my DC's to school. A man approached me, mumbled something to me and said ".... I've been dropped off here, some guys attacked me, they took my bag which contained £700.00. I'm from the states ( could tell from the accent).. I have no money to travel, they took my train ticket. Can you please lend me money to pay for my travel ?".

I replied "... how much are you talking ?".

He then said " Your a Christian Right ? May God bless your soul. I came up to you because you had a good aura... if you can just lend me £25.00 I can get back home".

I said "Well, have you been to the police, have you spoken to the Train station ? They will usually waiver if this sort of things" happen ".

He replied "No Ma'am, I could for underground, but not National Great Western Rail... please ma'am, my top is torn (he had a missing button)..: these guys attacked me, I have no family... friend to contact, I will give you my details so I can pay you back.... ok just oh £10.00 and I'll find someone else to pay the other half".

I was umming and ahhhing as I've been scammed before and wasn't sure... I told him "I can pay for your ticket or speak to the train station on your behalf to see if they waiver"".

He then walked off and called me a selfish bitch....

I feel a bit guilty after that to be honest but when we started spouting the whole "are you a Christian ?".... it seemed like to was the old scam tactic line.

Was I wrong to not help this guy out ?

I'd assume it was a scam i'm afraid, and direct him to the nearest police station.

Really sneaky. What makes you think t was a scam ?

I’d think it was a scam as well. You offered to buy his ticket, he didn’t want it, he wanted the cash!

@helpmetoseeagain what part makes you think it wasn't a scam ?😂

Of course it’s a scam - don’t feel guilty

I wouldn't have helped him.
If he had been attacked and robbed he should have gone to the police station.
It's a scam. Accent may throw some off the scent and the Christian spouting will make him seem good and trustworthy.
£25 won't get him far on his journey back to The States!

Total scam! You offered to help and he called you a bitch! Don't feel guilty!

Gamble he looked genuinely rough.. he was wearing a suit...he looked desperate.

But not desperate enough to accept your offer to buy ticket or speak to train staff. And not desperate enough to call police

The £25.00 was to get a ticket home somewhere....

I always go with “sorry I’ve no cash on me” whenever people approach me for money. You were nice to offer him assistance but you shouldn’t feel bad for not offering money!

I can see why you have been scanned before.

Massive and obvious scam.

Gamble

Definitely a scam. If he was genuinely robbed he would have gone to police

They (scammers) all look and sound desperate. If he had been attacked the first and only place he should have gone was the police station. This has scam written all over it so don't feel one bit guilty. The fact he didn't want the actual ticket and called you a bitch says it all. In future just don't engage and be glad you weren't caught out this time. He'll have moved onto some other poor unsuspecting person after you.

he looked desperate

I’m sure he tried his best!

OP, he wanted a ticket - you offered to buy it - then he decided he didn’t want the ticket, he wanted cash. If he was desperate he would have accepted your help. He wasn’t, so he didn’t.

Forget about him! He’s a chancer.

It was a scam. Someone steals £700 off you and you don't call the police?
I can't believe people still fall for this.

total scam.

He called you a selfish bitch and yet you post on here to ask you if you were wrong?

I'm glad you didn't just hand him any cash, but you need to work on your spidey-senses and not trust strangers who are trying to scam you.

Train some of you cross faces on people trying to scam you - will be more beneficial long term . Unless you are under 16 or have additional needs you really need to work on your personal and social boundaries.

Gamble I don't think your posts are very nice. Thanks for your input. Bye !

A very well known scam unfortunately.

The fact he wouldn't let you purchase the ticket he was desperate to get would ring alarm bells for me..

To be honest I agree with Gamble. Not sure why you’re getting so cross about someone pointing out you’re a tad naive - anyone who’d been attacked and robbed of so much money would obviously want the police first, unless they were lying or that money was connected to something criminal. A little common sense goes a long way, though it’s not always easy to engage when you’ve been randomly approached and put on the spot.