Common Scam?

[golfhobo]

At least 5 to 10 times, I have seen fairly well dressed, "young" families begging for gas money at the T/A in Kingman, AZ. They always "seem" to have just run out of money and gas.... RIGHT at that spot!

I wonder if it has anything to do with the proximity to the CASINOS in Laughlin, NV or Lake Havasu and Parker?? :shock:

Somehow, I find it hard to believe that such "normal" looking people, don't have an ATM card and a few bucks left in the bank at home.

I'm a "soft touch" also..... but, after awhile, you get jaded! I STILL help a few guys out now and then.... when they REALLY look hungry. But, MOST of these "stories" are about as NEW as that one about the friend slipping you a micky of pot at a party!

[lurchgs]

for some of these people, it's a profession.

Where my sister used to work, there was a disreputable old man on the corner every day - in good weather - but he was always gone by the time she left work. One day, she had to leave early and noted him climbing intoa brand new Caddy. She got to talking to him - he's a lawyer, got tired of it, and found he can actually pan-handle more money than he could working for a firm. He, apparently, panhandled about 8 months of the year in Chicago, and spent the other 4 months in his condo in Florida.

Here in Denver, I know of a lady who also panhandles in the good weather. Talking to her one day, I found she spends 6 months out of the year living in Mexico.

On the flip side - I was heading into work one day, this young moron was caging quarters 'cuz I ain't got no job, man!' I walked him around the corner to *three* businesses with "Help Wanted" signs in their windows. I turned around and.. I'll be damned, he was gone!.

And I'm not going to tell you my response to that couple panhandling - wearing nice leather coats, birkenstocks, and with a BMW key hanging out of his pocket. Let's just say it's a good thing I'm not armed, sometimes.

[Allen Smith]

This is similar to the situations I am always "hit on" by the "homeless." Giving someone $$$ is not a bad thing if you can afford to....what that person does with it is something they will have to "live with." But out on the road this happens constantly, and unless you can learn to say "no", you will find yourself near broke more often than not....best thing to say...."you are out of cash or don't carry any cash on you".....

[Fancy_Maneuvers]

I usually give the money if I can.

My most recent experience was at the Pilot in Biloxi. The man wanted to shine my rims... the rims on my dirty truck... I was tired and starving and the last thing I expected was someone asking for my money I told him no and kept on walking..

Inside the store I started to feel bad. What if he really was just hungry? Wouldn't I want someone to help me if I were in need? All of these questions coupled with bills I have to pay (that no one else is willing to pay )and family members who also need money for one reason or another...

still, I felt bad. When I made change at Subway, I came out and gave the man $5; I told him he didn't have to do anything for me. I'm a big softee; I can't help it.

On the other hand, my truck has optimized idle so it turns itself on... I suppose the person who knocked on my door at 3AM thought I turned it on.. why do these people think you should answer the door when you're quite obviously parked to sleep?
Another told me she needed gas money to get to her father who'd just died. I'd lost a parent, so I felt bad... feeling bad will leave me broke obviously..
Another wanted to sell me a camera.
Another was at a shop around the corner and needed money for food for him and his wife.. some friends told me that this same guy has hit them up for money, too..
I've started putting my foot down.. I work long hours for my money - I'm really the only one who deserves it... no one else. All of these people are adults - like me. They could go to work!

Moral of the story - Jumbo, you're not the only one :wink:

[zipy46]

this ain't pretty

...it backfired

...some fellow asked me for 2 dollars in St Louis
...he claimed he needed a can of 'fix a flat'
because he and his son were stranded...

I said 'no'

later..i noticed him bouncing from truck to truck apparently asking for
handouts.

...as i was watching the Indy 500 i hear a knock at the

window...

It was him again!... he had a handfull of power aides and sandwichs,

and was offering them to me and some of the other drivers.

...I felt like crap... i think i somehow have lost my soul

This world is a tricky mess

...Maybe its like that could be me...

Who knows ...next time i will at least give away a dollar

...in 100 years it won't matter anyways

[Kaji]

I'm such a sucker for that. I've bought cheap key chains at 2am in the desert, bottles of "chrome cleaner" that had who knows what in it, "vets" standing on the corner don't even have to ask, I just roll up with a 20 for them. Makes me feel better about being a dick to everyone else half the time.

[Morning Star]

Speaking from personal experience, I have been in need of assistance more than once, and thankfully people have been generous.

Most recently, I was on the way home from picking my cat up at the vet and I had two fighting kids with me, and due to their constant squabbling, I forgot to stop for gas and ran out about 5 miles from home. It was over 100 degrees out and my poor cat was recovering from surgery. A very sweet woman stopped and when I told her the problem, she went to a gas station and brought me back some gas. She refused to accept any money for her good deed.

I have no way of paying back all those who have helped me, so I pay it forward by helping others when I can. I would rather give someone five dollars, even if I was being "suckered" than to tell them no and have something bad happen to them.

In the grand scheme of things, you gave someone five dollars. That is good karma for you whether they actually got gas or used it for something else is out of your hands. I say feel good about being a good guy and continue to help people when you can.

[ArmoredTruckGuy]

As an armored truck driver/guard I have seen just about every type of panhandler, bum, begger, and all-around sign toter to almost write a book on these clowns.

The ones that floor me are the parasites that hang on the corners with small children, either standing or laying on the concrete, or in strollers.

Its one thing to have no pride in one's self, but it is quite another to subject your children to this type of life and the dangers that go with it.

Then there are the ones, and usually two or three on any given day, that when they recognize the truck, branded with a name known world-wide, that they think its funny to hold their hands out and mouth the words "please" or "come on just a little".

Yeh. It was funny the first two or three times, but not the last 300!!!!!!!

[coastie]

I have helped some and some I said no. Most times I see them coming and I just wave them off. Works most of the time.

I have been in a Petrol in MO, when I guy came in the store to pay for his 5.00 in gas for his car. I watched him try to pay but his ATM card failed. He was home on leave from Iraq, so I threw a 5.00 on the counter. Then it feels good to do so, but going around knocking on the doors, most of them are not real.

[Jumbo]

UPDATE EVERYBODY,

I got to the same Flying J in Alorton, Ill. last night about 10 p.m. As I was doing my log this morning guess who knocked on my door? The same son of a bitch. I rolled the window down and he gave me the same sob story about just running out of gas! I told him to get the gas gauge checked in his car because he seems to run out in the same place every time. Needless to say no money this time.