Estranged family member asks to borrow a tenner?

[Jamjarcandlestick]

A second cousin, 19M, who I’ve not spoken to for at least three years, and had limited contact with before then has just asked to borrow £10 via FB messenger (we’re not even friends on FB).

He said he doesn’t speak to his family anymore so can’t ask them for help, but he’s got a tenancy inspection tomorrow and his flat is a mess. Apparently he’s got plates everywhere and no washing up liquid. He says he’ll pay me back when he gets paid.

I’ve also not spoken to my cousin for three years therefore I don’t feel particularly comfortable reaching out to him to see what’s going on. I know my second cousin left home around then when he was kicked out of school/got in a lot of trouble with the police.

This. Never understood why people bother with fb/text scams. I always report and block immediately. But given the amount of people here who would send money straight away seems they must be taking it in easily!
Was there a name on the account you sent the money to or any way to know it was definitely from him OP?

My local sainsburys is open till 11pm Sunday.

Surprised you sent it. IMO it's either a scam and not him, or it is him and he now knows that he can randomly hit you up for money.

No heard of Monkey Dust?

I did this for a school Mum acquaintance. I figured she must be desperate to ask someone she doesn't know well. She was asking for more money not long after (which I didn't send)

Sorry to sound like a bitch, but you shouldn’t have sent it. You’ll just be asked for more. I would not even have responded to the request, if there had been no contact for 3 years. I wonder how many random people he asked for £10.

own brand washing up liquid costs less than a pound

also, if you are desperate and it’s for an inspection, you can wash up without washing up liquid. Plates might not be particularly hygienic, but they will look clean enough.

when you are asked again, just ignore the message

thank you all, in a way i’m glad there’s a differ of opinions as it did take me 1.5 hours last night to decide to send it or not.

I'm 95% sure it wasn’t a scam, he sent it from a FB page that’s been in use for at least four years, he’s been tagged by other family members with pictures etc, the writing style seemed to fit with his, he mentioned who he wasn’t talking to anymore (they had been deleted from his FB too), the last I heard he was living in that region (but that was over two years ago since I got any form of an update) and the bank account was in his name.

I know when he was 16 he was smoking weed, but how much weed can you buy for a tenner? Probably not worth the agro just for a joint unless he had a really bad day.

I was more apprehensive about opening the door to more requests but I’ve made a promise to myself that this is it. His dad is an absolute CF so he’s grown up thinking it’s ok to be a CF.

Update us if there are any updates?

Yep. I'd think "scam" as my first thought too. Like the infamous "Hello Mum" text messages.

Just so you know

You can buy monkey dust on the streets for £2

Mamba about a fiver

I caught up with another family member who is a lot closer to that side of the family. He's not spoke to second cousin for a few months but the story I was told by SC seemed to be correct (when he was kicked out, why he moved, the area he was living, having regular housing inspections). SC apparently smokes weed and vapes but not into 'hard' drugs unless anything has drastically changed in the last couple of months.

Was advised by other family member to tell SC in future that I don't have the money as he's just been a CF and reaching out to wider family as he's pissed everyone off who he's close to/tried to help.

Yep.

it is a shame when someone you care about can't sort their lives out