Wow! people bumping intentionally into you? (New York, York: live, car, ticket)

[you9275]

hi firstly, i wanted to say that i am traveling in NYC
i have a friend in manhattan and staying there as well
anyhow, my friend was busy and i was sightseeing the lower manhattan
and i was walking and it seemed like my arm hit someone else's arm
and i said excuse me and walked along
then this guys tapped me and showed me his
broken glasses and asking for 180 dollars

i was really frightened as he was a big guy with his friends...
now that i think of it.. it was obvious that lens of glasses cannot break from dropping 3 ft
but i was going crazy because i thought i really had to pay
and called my friend first
he said call the cops but when i called them, they say look for a cop around and that was it
and the conversation went o nfor like 10-20 minutes
and there was a cop, fortunately, patrolling and when i went to talk to him
then the guys disappeared...

and when i asked my friend i heard this was pretty common for a traveler..

although i tried to avoid looking like a traveler but i guess i still look like one...

hmm i was wondering if others had similar incident
and also what other things would people do to do if i look vulnerable
i would like to know in advance so i wouldnt be so frightened at the moment

thanks!

[Henna]

That's the notorious "broken glasses scam" and they've been targeting NYers and tourists for awhile with this one.

Here is a list of some others.
Crafty scammers still using age-old ploys to fleece New Yorkers, tourists

[you9275]

aww
yeah, i just found that out
that is very smart
fortunate that police car was patrolling by
thank you very much

[Henna]

Originally Posted by you9275

aww
yeah, i just found that out
that is very smart
fortunate that police car was patrolling by
thank you very much

You're welcome. Congratulations on not falling for the scam. That was your achievement, and yes, it was also lucky the cop was nearby. Enjoy the rest of your visit.

[you9275]

Originally Posted by Henna

You're welcome. Congratulations on not falling for the scam. That was your achievement, and yes, it was also lucky the cop was nearby. Enjoy the rest of your visit.

yep again thank you

any othre scams besides in the website that you know of?

[vantastic10]

Yeah I remember watching that one about the broken bottle scam on tv. The average new yorker wouldn't fall for these types of scams. The cons try it on tourists and in the case of the lottery ticket scams immigrants who can barely speak english.

You always have to be aware of your surroundings especially in crowded areas when somebody approaches you for whatever reason like asking for directions to distract your while his accomplice pickpockets you.

[jcoltrane]

Yup, sounds like a scam.

It's not a matter of trying not to look like a traveler----its a matter of looking like a New Yorker!!! Generally, difficult for non-NYers.

[sidrah]

AGreed and for God's sake, don't walk around with maps....Uggggg. makes me crazy. If you get on the subway watch for the same thing. My dad is a city cop and we were always told to put a thick rubberband around our wallets if we kept it in our pockets. Then you can feel if someone tries to slide it out

[SobroGuy]

Somebody tried to pull that on me walking along Bryant Park, a tall black male. He of course blamed me for breaking his glasses and demanded $20 and to "follow him to get it fixed." Who knows where the heck he would have taken me. I laughed and told him to scram...he said he would call the cops...I said don't worry..I will call them for him. He subsequently moved on to some other victim.

The scam is alive and well in the tourist areas..and I still see these guys hunting for victims..glasses in hand.

[scottykick]

Yeah, some people really need to get a "day job" that they can ***** about all week long, but be proud of knowing they are no longer a parasite on society.