Friend I haven't seen in 15 years wants to borrow money

[ONte]

Old childhood friend that I haven't seen for about 15 years. We were close at one point but she spread around some sensitive personal information about me as teens that caused me alot of upset and embarrassment. I forgave but never forgot iykwim.

Anyway we have one another on Facebook now and are both mothers, exchanging congratulations when our babies are born and occasionally having a little catch up.

Today she messaged me out of the blue asking if I can lend her £20 for gas as her children's father hasn't paid her and it's left her in a difficult position.

I know it's not much but we don't have alot of money, we live in an expensive (overpriced!) area and have been surviving on one wage since I had to stop working during my pregnancy due to health problems. Said pregnancy is now a 3 week old newborn.

I'm not sure I feel comfortable doing it as I've no way of guaranteeing she'll pay me back and £20 is two tubs of formula to me, I live 250 miles away now and she used to have form for borrowing things and not returning them (not money, clothes etc)

She does have a large family and I'm assuming other friends she can ask.

WWYD?

I would completely ignore this.

If it was a genuine friend in genuine need then I’d just give the 20 and not ask for it back. But this is a bitch who spread stuff about you and can’t be trusted to tell the truth.

Ignore and block is the best advice anyone could offer here.

@Waahingwashingwashing

Not a chance. Or if you do, do so on the understanding that you’ll never see it again. And she will ask again.

Just reply " Sorry,, no can do. Things are really tight here too."

If you "lend" £20 for the gas bill, next time it will be £200 she needs for repairing the washer. It's a test amount to see if you're soft enough. Don't be.

A real friend in real trouble, that's different, but never lend what you can't write off.

NO it's very likely a scam

That's 20pound not for the purpose ,I bet,wouldn't touch with a bargepole,farewell alone,why ask you? & not her family,strange me thinks.

shes most likely asking you because shes already borrowed and not paid back everyone else

Say no, refer her to this advice - www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

🤣 eh no!

just say no I am not in a position to be able to do that. She needs to sort things out with the Ex. Its hard though. The fact that its out of the blue is a big no no to me if she is not in touch otherwise.

Known Scam...

conversation.which.co.uk/money/facebook-account-hacked-posing-scam/

No way.
I'd ignore the message, but if you feel you must respond I'd simply say 'I've no spare money, talk to your family or SS'

No.

How odd. She must have worn out all her other friends and family. I would ignore it and defriend her.

I'd give her £20 if I could afford to.

@LittleGwyneth

I'd give her £20 if I could afford to.

Why?

It’s a no from me. I'd give or ask a close friend for £20 if really stuck but after 15 years I agree she’s shafted all her other friends and family and now moving on to you

I did get asked for £500 from a very old friend who had been compounded in a foreign country. I didn’t transfer the cash. I really hope they aren’t still compounded there

Hello

I got a very weird but believable email from my old boss last year asking me to help her purchase some vouchers

Her email was hacked
But it was shocking how convincing the email was

Could this have happened in your case?

I will say what several PPs have said,and that is only 'lend' it if you can afford to lose it,as chances are,you won't see it again. Also,be prepared for her asking again and again if you DO lend it.

ONte
Send back : "Oh my goodness, I think that one of us must've been hacked, as I've just got a message (from someone saying they are you) asking to borrow money. Honestly there are some cheeky fuckers about. Obviously they are not as clever as they think they are cos who on earth would ask an old friend that they hadn't seen for 20 years to lend them money ? Especially if they'd heard that friend had just had a new baby. The cheek of it. Just wanted to let you know in case you've received something similar. Apparently this is going round on Facebook at the moment.
Take care. X

@1FootInTheRave

Absolutely not.

Cheeky twat.

I second this Block her

Tell her to jog on.

I would do what OP is doing, leave it on unread/read and not reply - or just delete all her messages so it's not sat there

She's an old acquaintance from 15 years ago, who cares what she thinks or if she's been hacked. She has other people far closer to her to ask if it is her and not a scam. Anyway I wouldn't be interested in the slightest in someone I barely know asking to 'borrow' money from me, - not happening & not replying to CF requests.

A good stock reply if ever asked to loan money is to say your boiler has just packed up so any spare money is going towards a new one.
I struggle to say no to cf's but a reply like this is easy.

Crikey this thread is quite scary, the number of people who believe the message from OPs old friend is real is astounding. Easy to see why these scammers do this shit, when so many of you are ripe for being conned 🥴