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

You can tell I am not a Londoner lol. Actually the first thing she asked was if I was from London, dont know why

Standard scam. She did well out of you. Most people will only stump up for a tube ticket.

Obviously cos you'd be easier to scam.

Its done now OP. Believe the best of the situation as nowt you can do about it now!

I once paid for a young woman to get home because she'd unknowingly missed the last bus from town and was completely stranded otherwise. I also believe she was genuine.

You get back what you give.

No one wanders around with their passport and all their cards, that's what hotel safes are for, where was she staying.

Purse stolen? What about her phone? I can't believe that the police left her stranded. Still it's a sad world if we can't help a stranger in distress.

its more likely than not she’s a scammer but that doesn’t mean you weren’t a kind person so just take away from the situation that she may have had a little victory but long term you are the winner as you have a good heart

She could have approached staff for help if genuine. There’s a staffed info desk on the concourse and a load of manned stations in the ticket office off platform 1.

For God's sake, don't let strangers asking you for cash touch you, much less hug you.

Oh, but it's ok, she was a nice looking lawyer.

Do I owe you money? No? Then don't ask me for any.

I think you've been very generous. Probably a scam though.

Just put it down to experience and be more careful in the future.

So she managed to go to the police and also block
all her cards but she couldn’t get back to her hotel without £30? £30 is a lot of money! You must have money to throw away

Sorry but you were scammed for sure.

I’m really sorry that I have become very wary of scams. I’d like to think someone would help me if I got stuck but…

Twice now I’ve been approached by women claiming to be in this situation. Both times I was parking my car and had got there massively early to allow for parking so replied that I didn’t have any cash but was happy to give them a lift to <wherever> and both just melted away.

sorry OP.

Well you made some good points. I could’ve suggested the tube etc but I just couldn’t think of any of that at the time. It’s also never happened to me before.

And to be honest I have had a pretty lonely day today and I was actually happy someone gave me a hug. Anyway, I’ll be more careful next time. Thanks everyone

She got mugged on Oxford Street but she stopped you in Paddington? Why and how did she go all the way there?
Why didn’t she ask for a few quid for the tube/bus? Why £30?
Did she have a phone? If so she could have called a friend/family or her hotel for help. If not, how did she cancel her cards?

She saw you coming, OP.

She was a well dressed lawyer from Amsterdam who didn't have any alternative but to beg money from a female stranger (male would be more risky) in London. Believe what you like but I think the average lawyer could have thought out an alternative way of returning to a hotel.

Did she leave you her details?

.

A total scam and a very common one. Looking smart is part of the scam.

You know what OP, I am as cynical and hardened as they come but when moving house with 2 little kids I got scammed by a ‘window cleaner’ for £20. Afterwards I realised what a doughnut id been but in the moment I had so much in my head I didn’t switch the critical thinking on

so don’t worry - it can happen!

Oh, and come to think of it, this did happen to me once. Bag snatched, lost purse in pre mobile phone days. I hailed a taxi, got them to take me to the hotel and asked the hotel to pay the taxi and put the cost in my bill.

they at first refused, so I told them there was a taxi outside their hotel who might get a bit cross if not paid. Their choice was to pay them and put the cost on my bill or …. Have any angry taxi driver out the front of their hotel.

What I didn’t do was approach any strangers for a plan of some cash.

I gave £20 to a young man recently who stopped me on the street and said he had his bag stolen when he fell asleep on the train. Was he scamming me? Probably. But I could afford it as a once off and if there was any chance he was telling the truth then I did a good thing. I wouldn't worry about it.

Oh god, those awful Schlegel sisters.

Famous scam. Some of the women are quite convincing.

No one would genuinely ask this ever. She would sooner have walked if legit.

she was more than likely a scammer, whether she was or wasn’t, you did a kind thing regardless.

i used to work in retail. I can remember a lady trying to get a refund on an expensive item she picked of the shelf a few minutes earlier, complete with sob story. She was very convincing. She was also stunning to look at