Was I just scammed in SD? Did I do right thing? (Orange: credit card, home)

[bloom]

Well, the Bloom was at the gas station filling up, and a thin, but cleanly dressed bespeckled 50 yo man (who appeared gay but not sure), asked me for money to fill up his car. He said he was from Orange County (had a Santa Monica short-sleeved T-shirt on, didn't appear to have track marks on arm but didn't look close), ran out of gas, and his credit card didn't work. And had no second or ATM card (from Orange County, hmmm). He said something about his wife and cell phone (which would not jive with my impression of gay). Very, vey skeptically (I usually am cheap about these things) offered him 5 bucks. He wanted some more to really fill his tank to get back, but I told him that was the limit to Bloom's samaritanism and he would need to seek others. He offered to take my address to pay me back. Right, I'm going to give out my home or work address to a stranger. I gave him benefit of doubt, thinking if I was in his shoes (I have AAA though). Did I do the right thing? Or classic (Bernie Madoff) sucker I am?

[East Coast Wanderer]

Having been raised in big cities, he would NOT have gotten any money from me. He should have gone to the police for assistance from the local agencies. Maybe I'm cold but that's from experience.

[TomSD]

Originally Posted by njmike

Having been raised in big cities, he would NOT have gotten any money from me. He should have gone to the police for assistance from the local agencies. Maybe I'm cold but that's from experience.

Agreed. At the very least if you really felt bad ask him which pump and offer to go inside and put a couple bucks on it.

[Ohs]

SCAM never give money to anyone.

[East Coast Wanderer]

Originally Posted by TomSD

Agreed. At the very least if you really felt bad ask him which pump and offer to go inside and put a couple bucks on it.

I was raised in NJ and have spent alot of time in NYC so I learned fast to say to to "hustlers". The people who truely need help seem to know to go to the authorities and not strangers.

[RD5050]

That appears to be a common scam in SD.

I've had it happen to me twice in the past few years, and I turned them down both times.

One I was in Mission Valley outside of Food4Less, and a middle-aged lady approached me at my car, and said she needed money to get back to Temecula. She said she would mail the money back. I told her there were several ATMs within walking distance. Then she left and went to other cars.

I think people use that scam because it gets them the most money, rather then use the basic street corner begging.

[bloom]

Wait gents, you're probably right, but I'm also a slicker of sorts. I guess what would a legitimate situation look like? I don't think he was a druggie but he was pretty thin. And the gay look with the wife, geez.

[East Coast Wanderer]

There's no set "look" to a person pulling a scam. The can look, anywhere, from a derelict to a well dress family person. Suggest they go to the police, Salvation Army, or another social service or just say no.

[bloom]

So far, the consensus to the first question is Yes. Anyone disagree? What about my second question? What would you do if this happened to you (in which case you may be stupid to have it happen to you in the first place - no cash, just one credit/ATM card, no friends, or not stupid). Sassberto?

[FinkieMcGee]

If this was me I would've told him to **** off.

But I'm originally from Boston so I'm used to telling people to leave me alone