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Original poster

oh dear - what did I do?

35 replies

whatdidido · 04/05/2009 17:51

Oh God, just want to preface this by saying that I have namechanged and at the moment am absolutely paralysed with guilt and anxiety - can anyone tell me whether I am right to be?

Last night, extremely drunk, got chatting to a couple in the pub - we had a few drinks together, there was something a bit dodgy about them but they seemed nice enough, very friendly etc. By this stage am absolutely hammered and we all set off home - we were walking in the same direction. On the way past the cashpoint the guy says to me "could you do me a favour? if we go to the cashpoint could you just key in my pin number for me?" - seemed a bit at the time but I was so pissed, it just seemed like a slightly strange request, nothing sinister. So went with him to the cashpoint, he told me the number, I keyed it in and then stepped away while he got out money - I didn't see how much he got out. That was it, we went home.

Obviously this morning it's clear that the card must have been stolen and I have been so so stupid. Through my paranoid hangover, I've been thinking all day "oh God, what if it was all caught on CCTV (a possibility in this area) and the police come knocking? what do I do??" I am so so ashamed and annoyed with myself for being gullible, and too drunk to really think about it properly. Should I just phone the police and tell them what happened? I could easily describe the guy and know the vague area he said they lived, but I get the impression he could be a nasty piece of work if you got on the wrong side of him and don't want to be looking over my shoulder IYSWIM - God that sounds so cowardly but I am worried. Can anyone give me any advice?? Is this something I need to worry about or should I just notch it down to experience? I am guessing it's a pretty old trick which the police would know about and wouldn't necessarily hold me too responsible - it's not like I took any money off him or anything. Advice / help / virtual hug anyone?

OP posts:
MinaLoy · 04/05/2009 17:53

Virtual hug and a cuppa and a Dinny Fash. Maybe you should phone the cops...but someone sensible will come on and give you the right advice I'm sure. Poor old you.

BecauseImWorthIt · 04/05/2009 17:54

How do you know the card was stolen? And if it was stolen, how did he know the PIN number?

InternationalFlight · 04/05/2009 17:57

Poor you...this is horrid.

I'm just wondering how he knew the pin number if it was stolen.

InternationalFlight · 04/05/2009 17:57

I can't think of another reason he would ask you to do the pin.

Have you told him where you live, work etc?

scardypants · 04/05/2009 18:00

Are you missing anything? Was your bag open or your pockets easily accessible while your were distracted? I don't see why he would get you to do that if the card was stolen. If he was worried about cameras then why go to the machine to take the money out after he got you to put in the pin?

Jaquelinehyde · 04/05/2009 18:20

Hmmm it does seem very odd. Are you sure that you have nothing missing?

I just don't get why he would know the pin, and then get you to put it in and take the money himself.

Surely if it was stolen and he some how did know the pin then he would have just made up a story like "I need a quick pee here's my card pin 0000 get £200 for me"

Not much help but I'm a tad confused by it.

PortAndLemon · 04/05/2009 19:41

It could be worth calling your local police and asking them if this sounds like a scam they've come across before.

scardypants · 04/05/2009 23:53

Hi,

Can you come back to let us know you're ok.

Cheers.

SC

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 05/05/2009 00:00

I've never heard of this. Is it possible the guy has vision problems (eg, long-sighted) and had left his glasses at home?

Gemzooks · 05/05/2009 00:36

he might have been too pissed to enter the number himself?

Original poster
whatdidido · 05/05/2009 08:18

thanks for the advice, you're right, it does seem odd that he would ask me to put in the pin number for him - I couldn't really think of a reason why he would want me to do it and that's why I am assuming it's a scam of some kind, although I can't work out how it would work tbh... perhaps I am just being paranoid and there is nothing to worry about? I am just nervous that I might have been unwittingly involved in some kind of crime

I checked my bag when I got home and still have wallet, diary, phone etc, and I didn't tell them where I live or work (although they know I am local)

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Original poster
whatdidido · 05/05/2009 08:40

so does anyone think I should phone my local police station, tell them what happened and see what they say?

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MadamAnt · 05/05/2009 08:48

Seems a bit pointless for him to get you to enter the pin number if he then took the cash out! He'd be on camera too. Seems strange, but I can't think what the scam would be. TBH I'd alert the police anyway just to set your mind at rest.

GentleOtter · 05/05/2009 08:52

It is just a wild thought but perhaps he could not recognise numbers (discalculia ?)

Niftyblue · 05/05/2009 09:12

How could he have known the PIN?
Doubt it was stolen
Most cashpoints have cameras over them
So you would both be seen
He took the money NOT you

TrillianAstra · 05/05/2009 09:19

I don't think you've done anything wrong, the police certainly won't be bothered about you.

If you really think it was stolen then you can go to the police and give the time and location of the cashpoint and they will find out if a card reported stolen was used there. If it was then you can give them a good description of the guy.

Maybe he didn't want his fingerprints on the cash machine? Which is silly because it would definitely be used and messed up before anyone could take his fingerprints.

Or maybe it wasn't stolen and he was too drunk to press the buttons, or he has trouble reading or recognising numbers.

Lemontart · 05/05/2009 09:24

I think I would tell them whatdidido.
For two reasons: gut instinct was that there was something slightly odd about them initially. Cover yourself in case there is more to this than is clearly seen - better to inform them now than if it got more complicated and weird in the future. Like others, I think the most obvious explanation is that it was his card, his pin and he was too bladdered to see the key pad/too stupid and willing to give away his own pin! However, for peace of mind, cover yourself, report it and then put it to the back of your mind.

bodiddly · 05/05/2009 09:25

my first thought was perhaps he can't read numbers ... he wouldn't have the pin number if he had stolen the card, surely?

TrillianAstra · 05/05/2009 09:29

He may have had the pin if he stole the card - it's possible to read over someone's shoulder in a queue before you get hold of their card.

LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 05/05/2009 09:29

I would go to the police station and make a report and then they can check if there are any suspicious transactions.

You have done nothing wrong

Original poster
whatdidido · 05/05/2009 09:35

thanks Nifty - I think what I will do is try to forget about it. Even though it seemed a bit dodgy, you're right, I can't think of what the scam might be. None of us seem to be able to come up with a scenario in which a scam makes sense! As far as I am concerned, I just rather stupidly complied with a request from a stranger but didn't see anything wrong about it. If the police are investigating something, and have got me on CCTV at the cashpoint, and somehow find me and want to talk to me, I only need to tell them the truth about what happened. So why am I still feeling sick about it? I am too embarrassed to tell my DH and this morning can hardly concentrate on my LO at all

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Original poster
whatdidido · 05/05/2009 09:37

now reading more posts, am wondering if I SHOULD call the police... oh dear...

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PieceNharmoknee · 05/05/2009 09:37

If he had problems with seeing numbers I dont understand why he asked you and not his gf to enter them

Contact the police for peace of mind

TrillianAstra · 05/05/2009 09:40

It's normal to feel weird and upset about it, dno't worry, of course you feel strange because you are worried that you have done something wrong.

Original poster
whatdidido · 05/05/2009 09:41

Piece, you are right - I did wonder why he didn't want his girlf to enter the numbers for him if he had trouble seeing them. That is probably what got me thinking it was something strange.

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