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AIBU?

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Original poster

Need quick answers - should I help

57 replies

alwaysscared · 14/01/2020 08:18

Someone on a group on Facebook I am on is desperate. Has no money until thurs and her elec is going to go off. She has 2 kids. She has asked, in a very embarrassed way, if anyone can help with £10. She has left her PayPal account email. Should I help? Can I be defrauded on PayPal? I know you shouldn't really send money to strangers but I can't stand the thought of those poor kids and her having no elec. Is it better to get her bank details or do through paypal?

OP posts:
PineappleDanish · 14/01/2020 08:53

And as for the "can you be defrauded on Paypal", well no you can't in the sense that if you send a tenner to an email address, they can't take any more than that amount.

But there is no way of checking that it's a genuine case. Anyone with an email address can receive money through paypal.

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2020 08:54

This is a really depressing thread.

StrongTea · 14/01/2020 08:55

I’d help.

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2020 08:56

In case anyone has missed it, this woman isn’t a friend, she’s a stranger from the internet who the op has never met.

Singlebutmarried · 14/01/2020 08:57

Copy and paste the wording of the post into a web browser search bar.

A lot of scammers use the same ‘script’.

If you get some hot you know it’s a scam.

Original poster
alwaysscared · 14/01/2020 08:57

Really don't know what to do. I'll message her privately and see if anyone has helped. No I don't know her bug she has been on the group as long as I have, about 2 years. It's a mental health support group.

OP posts:
Singlebutmarried · 14/01/2020 08:57

Some hot. Some HITS

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2020 08:58

She’s be up to £70 so far from posters in this thread.

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2020 08:59

I'll message her privately and see if anyone has helped.

And you think you’ll get an honest answer?

BoreOfWhabylon · 14/01/2020 09:00

I'd help. I've done it before and will do it again.

Yes, she might be a scammer but many many people are in desperate circumstances.

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2020 09:00

£80 now.

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2020 09:01

Does anyone ever wonder why we get so many begging threads on here?

AJPTaylor · 14/01/2020 09:01

No way of checking if it's genuine. How many people on the group? You know what? Send her a pound. There will be at least 10 others

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2020 09:02

No way of checking so the best thing to do is send money AJP?

£81 pledged by this thread in total now.

Tombliwho · 14/01/2020 09:05

I would ask for her rough location and help her to find a food bank. Some can also provide energy vouchers. If she is genuine she will seek help from the appropriate places.

GoldLeafTree · 14/01/2020 09:05

Somebody else will have sent her money + she'll probably have £50 by now. She may be genuine but she'll have been sent enough by now.

I see this all the time on a Facebook group for Slimming World and you get 10+ people saying they've sent money.

A lady in a Facebook group for vegans recently said she couldn't afford a food shop and based on just what people had commented, she got over £150.

Wattagoose90 · 14/01/2020 09:24

Agree with @PurpleDaisies

I hate to be cynical and have such a dim view on humanity but I've seen this scam before. It can be a lucrative business. I had to bail out a friend who wasn't financially stable but "didn't have the heart to let someone go with even less".

I'd point her in the direction of the nearest food bank and charities than could offer assistance.

recklessruby · 14/01/2020 09:25

Agree with pps. Electric companies will credit your meter will up to 20 pounds in those circumstances. You just have to call them.
If she s genuine she might not know this but children fall into the vulnerability group who they wont leave without power.
Be prepared for the counter excuse of not having phone credit to call though.
So still needing £10. Yes I m an old cynic, but who isnt broke after xmas?

RB68 · 14/01/2020 09:25

honestly with that low an income she is likely on some sort of credits and that often entitles you to free prescriptions anyway.

Personally I would not - there are other avenues which she needs to persue

Original poster
alwaysscared · 14/01/2020 09:43

She has deleted the post so obviously someone helped or she thought better of it.

OP posts:
Fidgety31 · 14/01/2020 09:47

I wouldn’t believe her for a second !
If she is on low income she will get free prescriptions and the kids will anyway .
She can use the emergency credit on her meters .

Sounds like a con

PineappleDanish · 14/01/2020 09:48

She has deleted the post so obviously someone helped or she thought better of it.

Kerching!

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 14/01/2020 09:50

No do not do it.This is why MN removes begging threads. You are being had

ohwheniknow · 14/01/2020 09:57

This is a really depressing thread.

Isn't it just

ReorderProduct · 14/01/2020 09:58

Direct her to her Local Salvation Army. They will help with food and credit on a key card for electricity

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