Scamming is a job, too

There have been several occasions where I have witnessed a person going from one person to another telling each one of them of his/her tradegic situation. One of the most common story is the lost of wallet/purse. Another variation to this is his/her car got stolen and do not have enough money to get back home. One way or another, the situation is usually the inability to "get back home". Hence, the person lamenting his/her story would go around asking for money to "help" him/her.

One of their 'successful' aspect to get people into believing that their story is true is their professionalism. It's shown in the their clean-cut nicely dressed 'professional'. They'd appear to you as a white-collar professional or a PhD. student, etc. (depending on location) to avoid looking dodgy. It is an important aspect as first impression always count! Imagine just the opposite -- clothed in patch-worked shirt, stained and unwashed, dirty ripped jeans, and unwashed and uncombed hair etc. (what I'd call a genuine beggar) -- asking for "spare change". 9 (maybe 8) out of 10 would just walk away without sparing any change. The stranger would appear to be just-off-work (hence, still dressed professionally) but coincidently has just-been-robbed and seeking help from people to "spare any monies" ranging from 2£ to 20£ for a train fare.

Below would normally be the typical conversation set. There be may other variations.

Stranger: Excuse me... Can you please help me?
*Hessitant, but first impression already got you*
You: Yeah? What is it?
S: I am not begging for money. My car was parked here while I attended a conference at the University of ... it has been stolen. I have reported to the police and these are the statements to proof that. I need to get back to London but I can't because...
Y: Oh?
S: Can you please help me? I need to get enough money for a train fare to [destination].
Y: Yeah, okay. How much?
S: Any amount will do. What ever you can give. I'd rrrrreally appreaciate it!
Y: There you go... I hope this is enough. Good luck!
S: Thank you so very much!

At this point, you either walk away or take out your wallet!

These people are scammers! There is no doubt about it! They are otherwise called panhandlers! I am writing this so that you be aware that these people are professional scammers out there to get your hard earned cash. They stories are obviously bullcrap and whatever [documentation] proof they can come up with can be cooked up at home. They, too, work 8 hours a day. Using simple calculations you can work out how much per-hour s/he is earning, and is probably more than what you earn working as a qualified solicitor-- tax-FREE!

By the time the panhandler approaches you, s/he would have approached enough people to have enough money to make a phone call back to either friends or family member(s)/relatives for such assistance. All he/she ever need is just 1£ or no more than 2£ to use the public phone! But no, because people are easily fooled by first impression and it is this gullibleness that these panhandlers are obliged to take advantage of! They live and work in that city where you'd run into one. So, the "train fare back home" is utterly and absolutely nonsense!

If that person in the dialogue above have gone to the police, it'd be hard for me to imagine that the police actually just left him in the city stranded and did nothing further to help the victim of the stolen car get back home! For all I know, that victim should still be sitting in the police station; probably waiting for a patrol car to send him off, or something!! Instead, he is out there asking people for money to help him get home! Although, to be bloody blatantly honest, I'd love to see how s/he react when I flag down a police officer. Panhandling is illegal!

Panhandling or scamming is a job too! They are making money out of your gullibleness! And it is unbelivably easy! It is ironic that one would give 'some' money to these scammers/panhandlers, who'd usually live a normal live outside of their "working hours", then to give to the really genuinely poor and homeless -- Big Issue sellers!

You have now been warned. The next time a person appears in suit & tie, be it a woman (gawdammit!!) or a man, telling you sob stories as described above, just walk away! However, I'd really hate the fact when if it was a really genuine case and I'd turned him/her down. Or if you really want to help, bring him/her to the police! I betcha s/he will walk away from you! Busted!

Here's another person's sentiment (click here), have a read.