What a day eh, commercial free-loaders and now this in my inbox from a dirty skanky scammer … hopefully this it for today !
Är så ledsen att jag stör, jag är i Limassol, Cypern just nu och jag
felplacerad bara min påse med alla mina viktiga poster, telefon och
pengar vid busstationen. Jag är typ av strandsatta nu kan jag behöva
lite hjälp från dig.Tack,
Jenniefrom Jennie Wiklund <jempawiklund@gmail.com>
Translated from Swedish
Am so sorry to bother you, I am in Limassol, Cyprus right now and I
just misplaced my bag with all my important items, telephone and
money at the bus station. I’m kind of stranded now i need
a little help from you.Thank you,
Jennie
Reminds me of when I first moved to London, many moons ago. I was walking down one of London’s main streets, Regent Street. A young woman approached me, a distressed expression on her face. She told me her purse had been stolen and needed £3 for a night bus to get home. For some reason I refused, but did feel very guilty about it, all the way walking home in fact. What if she had been genuine? What if it had been my sister who’s stuck without any money ?
But some things just didn’t add up. A night bus in London at the time I think was only £1.50, so why the request for £3 ?
Anyway a couple of days passed, and I happened to be walking up the same stretch of street. Who approaches me, but the SAME young woman. And guess what, same story, purse had been stolen and needed money for night bus to get home. What a RELIEF, my guilt completely lifted, I’d been feeling guilty over a nasty skanky scammer. DOH !
What I find most nauseating and abhorrent about these types of scams, is that they pull on some pretty compassionate heart strings. And the scammer just doesn’t care what damage they might cause in the future. I mean if someone genuinely needed my help, am I more or less likely to help them as a result of being treated like this ?
On the plus side, what did I learn ? Well be compassionate, but don’t be a fool, lady tears aren’t necessarily authentic lady tears.
Cheers
Don Charisma
Resources & Sources
Crying Woman Photo – morgueFile
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Warm regards, Don Charisma
Don Charisma 
It’s a double edged sword, you want to help someone, but you don’t know if their really in trouble
or just scamming.
Very much so, the skill is in deciding who’s who !
That poor lady might have been robbed twice. London is a dangerous place after all.
Perhaps she should stay at home if she’s so “accident prone” LOL
Yeah I had the same situation once, I saw the woman the whole week doing the same thing every day in differents places. The first day I saw her I felt so bad because I didn’t have any money, so I offer to her to pay the metro ticket for her with my metro monthly ticket, since I had just that… but she said no…. And I was like, okay, well, I think it can help you, but goodbye…An then one day there was a little girl so worry for her, and it felt so wrong that I just went there and said; let it go, this woman is asking for money every day with the same story, and it is a lie. And the young girl was like What???? But I felt like I had to do it because it is wrong to feel sad for them, they are sick, they lie, they have drugs problems, and I can feel that, but to feel bad for someone who is lying to you, it is too much even if they are losing their mind, because they are…
Understood, for me it’s simply – once someone has started to act unvirtuously or disrespectfully towards me, I lose any respect or virtue towards them, generally I want separation, as soon as possible. I’m patient and try to start relationship with an open heart but closed heartedness is necessary for one’s survival in this world … This is just life, not to worry too much or lose too much sleep … if one wants to do something to help, then do volunteer work for charity or similar 🙂
wow, I was writting my comment but something happen and I thought it was erased, now I can seee it wasn’t hahahaha and you are right, it is not necessary to worry that much when you have a lot of ways to do something about it without being tricked 🙂
Ah yes that happens to me sometimes 🙂 … good to hear from you … warm regards DC
Unfortunately there are so many scammers out there. Sad for the few, who really need our help.
Irene
Then it’s our job to understand the scammers and weed them out … truth always shines through anyway, liars are always exposed sooner or later …
You are right. We can just hope to see the scammers, before it is too late. Some demands more time to figure out…
I’ve devoted quite a lot of time to study, helps me spot them sooner … but still get caught out …
Don’t hit yourself because of that. We learn new every day and one day we will be great to spot them fast.
Take good care of yourself Don 🙂
men uses MONEY and PHYSICAL STRENGTH and women uses TEARS for the same reason
now u know to how discern crocodile tears from tears
True say, can see that perspective … I actually learn’t this a lot earlier in school waiting to see the head-teacher told me how she puts on tears to get less stern punishment …
Yeah, we once had a very pregnant-looking lady ask us for taxi fare, because she was about to deliver the baby any moment. We said, “Hop in; we ourselves will take you to the hospital”. Surprise, surprise — she backed off! You would have had a similar experience if you had offered to get into the bus and buy her her ticket 🙂
I’ve heard the same advice about beggars, offer to go and buy them a cup of coffee, usually they decline … a lot of the time, I just am too busy to waste my time even interacting with people that are essentially trying to rip me off … it’s hard I know, but they made their choice already ….
True. For those who are in doubt/ feeling guilty, though, it’s the surest way to eliminate doubt/ clear the conscience!
For sure, I agree it’s a good strategy … what I’m saying is that often I’ve already made my mind up, so have a clear conscience to walk on by … in Thailand it’s harder to walk on by with clear conscience, as often these people obviously seem genuinely in need, a man with no legs and no wheelchair for instance … but they usually still have a smile on their face and what seems like love in their heart … sometimes I give a little, depends on what’s happening for me that day 🙂
True!
Very similar situations have happened to me and I hate that the antics of some have made me calloused to all.
Tip: She probably needed the double fare for she and her boyfriend who, in all likelihood, was waiting in the shadows to attack anyone who confirmed that they were carrying money.
For sure … and these people learn all kinds of scam … best to educate oneself, forewarned is forarmed 🙂
I’d love to see the scammers take on someone four armed! 🙂
LOL … very creative 🙂
It’s really a shame people like that make it hard for people that really need help.
Isn’t it just !
I encountered the ‘North American girl who was out of money and the embassy couldn’t help and she had a baby to feed’ in San Jose.
A policeman told me not to give her money – he worked that pitch every day….and so did she.
He was right…i saw her again….
LOL, so lesson learn’t … don’t feed the monkeys 🙂
Something similar happened to me once. The guy claimed that his stuff had been stolen while aboard a ship he was working on. He was very angry when I refused to help him. But I knew it was a scam eventually …things just didn’t add up like you said. Enjoy reading your posts. 🙂
I’ve found that people who get angry quickly often there’s something manipulative on … certainly a signal anyway if it smells fishy !
And thanks hun 🙂
Yes, so true. Your welcome!
😎
Don, I had a similar experience. My friend and I didn’t pay and we walked on. After a few paces, my witty friend made me wait and watch what the guy did. Soon we realized the guy was a scam!
I’ve had guys try similar stuff and yes most of the time they are scammers 🙂
And a gentleman’s tears? Be careful out there
Yup that’s the sinister end that I hinted on … cruelty takes many forms …
I’ve had this happen so often. Sad, but we need to create our own priorities.
So I’m not the only one this stunt is tried on in LOndon ? and yes, put yourself first 🙂
If only they knew that they could just get out there and do something positive for themselves. It is well.
Not sure what the cure is, but it’s certainly not the type of people I want to invest any time in 🙂
Your sixth sense worked perfectly that day.
Bye-Bye Dear Don 🙂
Thanks Niko my friend 😉
You’re welcome, Don! 🙂
The deposed Nigerian prince that I’m sending money to in order to help get his inheritance out of his country warned me about this kind of scam. 😉
LOL you are too funny !
It is hard to tell on the street who deserves a little help and who is looking for the next way to feed an addiction, Don. Email, though, go away scammers.
Totally, but one gets a smell for it after a few experiences like this … as for email, spam queue !