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

Total scam. And you probably just helped her to score some drugs or buy any few bottles of vodka.

If you want a hug I’ll do it for a tenner and give the money to charity.

I agree,you also shouldn't be getting your purse out either where it can be snatched .

Seriously folks, if our kids were doing this we'd be horrified and tell them to be more careful. It is NOT a nice thing,it's a scam.

Scam.

Seriously folks, if our kids were doing this we'd be horrified and tell them to be more careful. It is NOT a nice thing,it's a scam.

Exactly and I dont agree with "it doesnt matter if it's a scam or not, you did the right thing"- NO. Of course it matters if it's a scam. Noone should be scammed out of their own bloody money- it's stealing under false pretences.

?

Decades ago, a family friend who was a vicar, said they were forever getting scammers knocking at the vicarage door. A man said his car was running low on petrol could he have some money. The friend said he would go with him to a nearby petrol station and pay for it....and when thry got there the tank was just about full.

Im surprised the London scam is still that your purse was stolen because im sure thieves would far likely (and more easily) steal phones.

You were scammed.

I had similar, perhaps in Windsor (my memory has never been good) and in Leeds. Very evidently student age, female, on their own and I could feel their panic for the lack of change for their respective train fares. This was a while ago, where it was certainly possible they didn't have a mobile phone or it was dead/not adequately charged.

I didn't grudge them the up to £5 that was provided. Know how I'd feel.
People have become savvier to ensure they're not caught out so much, but it does happen.

I haven’t read the whole post & someone may have already mentioned this . I googled to see if this was a scam & apparently it is ‘ the stranded professional or tourist scam ‘. There appear to be several others listed. Makes for interesting reading.

I’m not that good looking but once at about 2am I got robbed and had no way of getting home. My phone was dead (I’m that girl) and I was asking someone where the police station was so I could go there and see if they could get me home at least. That lovely lady got me a taxi home and let me use her phone to call the police as she said the station was too far away. Anything could have happened to me that night. Obvs I took this persons details and paid her back asap and we’re now friends. Anyway. Pointless story but things like this mean I am always the first to help someone out and if I get scammed, that’s a risk I’m prepared to take

Yes it does matter! These are huge criminal gangs and people like the OP are funding them. It's important to realise this as it's people like the OP who enable them. Don't dress it up with " good karma, it doesn't matter, I'd rather be nice etc etc. "

I was scammed just outside my block of flats when I lived in London, in my early 20s. The stupid thing was that I immediately knew they were trying it on and she said she needed money to get to X but I knew the direction she had come from/was going didnt match the story, but I panicked that she would know where I lived and probably gave her a fiver.

And what will these scammers do when we live in a cashless world.

Dont worry theyve already started the text "hi mum I've lost my phone", they'll think of new more convincing ones

They move to Facebook or other social media - sending messages to lonely people and adding them as friends and then once they've got an emotional connection with them they hit them up for money due to some bogus "crisis".

I’d say this has already impacted business. I never have a penny on me anymore, I use apple pay for everything.

we’ll be scammed into sending money on revolut or something! They’ll evolve.

Definitely scam. This is a regular experience in London, people approaching asking for bus or train fare. It used to be "can you give me money for the payphone" before mobile phones. She could have asked staff at the station to help, it's unlikely she actually spoke to the police at all.

@LovingLilacDuck a well know sob story scam.

Well dressed. Need to get somewhere. Already reported stuff stolen etc... oh and great actors.

Next time walk them to a ticket booth to buy a ticket for them. I bet they decline...

Yes- I noticed noone is saying "it doesnt matter" about online scams either. Oh it doesnt matter if you lost your life savings- you did a really good thing!

Giving money to a scammer is the equivalent of giving booze to an alcoholic: they probably love you for it, but it doesn't make it a wise thing to do - for anybody, including themselves. Who would honestly choose to live their life that way?

I often think, when you see the carefully-planned and in-depth operations that some scammers and rogue traders get involved in... why don't they just use all of that skill, intelligence and determination in starting a legitimate business? You could have some pride in your life and not feel like you always have to nervously look over your shoulder and cover your tracks. You'd get repeat custom from genuinely happy punters; no being confronted by angry people when they realise that you 'have your money stolen' every week.

Someone once gave me money in London after I got pick pocketed at a market. lol probably obvious I was genuine though I was in tears 🤣 didn’t have a phone and didn’t know how to get to my sisters flat. A cafe gave me a cup of tea for free too. It’s sad that people scam people and you can’t tell who is genuine.

There’s a homeless guy at my tube station who is there asking everyday for £10 so he can get in the hostel. I saw a lady give him £20 once - he was so grateful and was going to rush to the hostel to book his spot.

when I came back he was there asking for his £10 for the hostel.

he spent the money on drugs and sleeps rough in the same place every night

it’s very sad but cash isn’t helping him and he turns away the local outreach workers

He might have said diesel rather than petrol.

What I thought was funny was that he had gone to the trouble of wearing a hi viz and carrying a little gerry can.

I agree with what you are saying which is why he didnt get any money first time around. This was in Putney and I am guessing he thought that the sort of people who live there might not be au fait with working men and vans.

It’s people who don’t want to work - if they set up a business or got a job where charm pays it would involve having to make commitments. Conning people is much less effort and you can work for yourself. The original cheeky fuckers

It does sound like a scam but she took you unawares and told you her sob story and you sound like a compassionate person so you gave her £30.

The other day, I was in London and had the thought that everything (cash/keys/phone) was in my bag and if someone stole that from me I wondered if in this day and age anyone would help me out or whether I'd be stranded.

Maybe give yourself a pat on the back for being compassionate in a cynical world rather than berate yourself for maybe being conned.