AIBU to wonder if giving cash to a stranded tourist was naive

[LovingLilacDuck]

I just got approach by a tourist woman in Paddington who said she got her purse stolen in Oxford Street. She asked me for some cash as she had to put blockage on all her bank cards because they were stolen. And she needed the cash to go to her hotel or something like that. She was good looking, she said she was a lawyer from Amsterdam and was soft spoken but also a little nervous. And she was so happy when I gave her the cash that she gave me a hug and thanked me in a genuine way.

I helped her because she seemed genuine. Of course, there is a chance she could be a scammer herself so a part of me feels a bit sad and naive. But I just want to hope that she wasn’t and I helped a woman in need.

What would you do in this situation? I am just curious. xx

How much did you give her?

I might have booked her a premier inn, definitely not cash tbough..im.sure she could have called family to book her a room...

You won't see that money again.

No she was staying in a hotel already and she needed to get there somehow. I guess with a taxi.

There are a lot of muggers who hug people then take their jewellery/wallets/purses etc....be careful OP.

£30

How much? Very likely a scammer. As for booking her a hotel room, I think not!

I'd have told her to go the the nearest police station and to ring her bank for emergency funds, she could also go to the Dutch embassy but I suspect this was a scam.

Luckily I don’t wear anything expensive/valuable. I checked and I’ve got everything with me x

She said she already went to the police and they told her to block all her cards

I wouldn't have given her anything. But I'm a Londoner and hardened to all that. It's not a particularly nice aspect of my personality though, the world would probably be a better place if we were all a bit more like you!

I mean that’s not going to leave you short but logically speaking she didn’t need to take a taxi to her hotel for £30 (how did she get to Paddington?). Well dressed scammers aren’t unusual - she could just be a CF who decided to get someone else to pay for her fare. Or she may well be genuine. You need to trust your gut

did she have her phone with her?

Sorry long day at work, then l would have booked her an uber or bought her a tube ticket..

Good job she was good looking, definitely not a scam in that case.

🤣

I obviously thought this could be a scam, but what if it was true? We live in such a world now that we have to first think of the worst possible case and believe that’s the truth. It’s sad…

It is sad but people want something for nothing

if she had her phone she didn’t need cash

I can’t remember if she had it on her. I asked about her passport and she said she had that with her.

£3 for undergrund ticket would do.

Without her phone she would struggle to block her cards

Why couldn't she get a bus, how did she cancel her cards, she must of had her phone or Internet access. I'd expect a lawyer to know what to do

If it was true she’d have asked you for the bus fare or a train ticket not for cash for a taxi

So a lawyer from Amsterdam doesn’t have uber or Apple Pay or a spare card on their phone?

I don’t even have a purse anymore. Or use cash.

it a pretty old school scam.

couldn’t she just walks?

I would say definitely a scam. How did she pay to get to Paddington from Oxford Street if she’d blocked her cards? Why couldn’t she use the same means to get any further?

Nonsense.

I wonder how she got from Oxford St to Paddington, and which police station she found on the way

and depending where her hotel was, she didn't need £30 !!!

a tube would be cheaper and a bus even cheaper one trip is something like £1.50/£1.75...