Scam Artist

[CanadianChief]

I was reading a story in our local paper today about a scam artist whos story goes like so...

He parades up and down the streets of the business district in a shirt and tie claming he's from a little town outside the city and his car run out of gas so he's looking for a few people to help him out with a few bucks to get him back home.

Weird thing is this guy approached me on two different occasions at Wendy's and McDonald's parking lots about two years ago with the same old sob story. The second time I said to him you told me you ran out of gas about a month ago and now you go and do it again....what are the chances of that? He took off pretty quick

I guess it must be working for him if he's been at it that long. Bastard probably makes more than I do in a year!!!

Anyone have anything similar to this going on in their neck of the woods?

[Fish]

Not really a beggar story so much, but interesting.....

There's this dude that used to come by the front of our office on Troost and pick out the half-smoked cigs in the butt can thingy every morning. He looked downright scary as fuck. One eye that seemed to violently scrutinize you while the other eye was independently watching that cloud that looks like a dumptruck.... I never said a word to him for the longest time, and he never even made eye contact. Then a few days after last christmas, it was cold and nasty and he came by to check for cigs. All the cigs were wet and useless and the guy looked totally defeated. I gave him what was left of my pack of smokes... about 10 or 12... and told him Merry Christmas. I'd been trying to quit anyway. He looked at me like I just handed him a $1000. We started talking, and still do when I see him now and then. Pretty nice guy behind the clothing and scruffy hair. He told me he used to have a job and normal life, and he just decided to walk away from all of it. He still never asks for anything, and has remembered my name from the first time I talked to him.... We shoot the shit for a bit, and go our completely different ways....

Anyway, just thought of that when I read this thread...

[Sydd]

Originally Posted by morphius

I've heard one of the beggers on the Plaza has a pretty nice Mercedes, so this doesn't shock me much...

I was going to post that one. Its the guy with the crutches who is always outside the McDonalds at the Seville. He was on the news a few years ago. He walked a few blocks with his crutches, then stood up straight, walked the last 30 feet to his Mercedes without them, and got in and drove off.

After that I started watching the guy whenever I was around there. If the local cops are around, they always smirk when people give him money.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Not really a beggar story so much, but interesting.....

There's this dude that used to come by the front of our office on Troost and pick out the half-smoked cigs in the butt can thingy every morning. He looked downright scary as fuck. One eye that seemed to violently scrutinize you while the other eye was independently watching that cloud that looks like a dumptruck.... I never said a word to him for the longest time, and he never even made eye contact. Then a few days after last christmas, it was cold and nasty and he came by to check for cigs. All the cigs were wet and useless and the guy looked totally defeated. I gave him what was left of my pack of smokes... about 10 or 12... and told him Merry Christmas. I'd been trying to quit anyway. He looked at me like I just handed him a $1000. We started talking, and still do when I see him now and then. Pretty nice guy behind the clothing and scruffy hair. He told me he used to have a job and normal life, and he just decided to walk away from all of it. He still never asks for anything, and has remembered my name from the first time I talked to him.... We shoot the shit for a bit, and go our completely different ways....

Anyway, just thought of that when I read this thread...

Which side of Troost, we have a guy that rides a bike and always bums or takes cigs out of the tray, he wears the same metallica shirt all the time so we call him metallica, he is also a drug courior...

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I also ask panhandlers for any money they can spare before they ask me.

that's too funny. I do the same thing. If I see a panhandler heading my way, right as he approaches I ask him if he has any change.



I heard a story from a guy at my work today about one of his buddies that lives in a pretty rough part of Charlotte. He goes down to the jewelry store with his pockets stuffed with fake jewelry. He walks out of the store and drops a piece or two on the ground hustles to pick it up and briskly walks out of the store. People follow him, tell him they saw what he did, and then ask to buy the stuff at a discounted price. That's just priceless.

[UteChief]

There is a man and woman that I have seen around my area. They are deaf and will hand you a note that explains there situation, as well as ask you to donate money of any amount for a copy of the alphabet in sign language. I gave them money once or twice but when they continued to come around I wouldn't. They may be deaf but they should still be able to get a job. They used to come into the McDonalds I worked at in highschool.

[Rain Man]

I work in downtown Denver, and unfortunately there are a couple of homeless shelters within walking distance of the pedestrian mall, so we get lots of panhandlers near work. Most of them are pretty skanky ne'er-do-wells, but there's one guy that's pretty cool. He never asks for money and he never says a word. He's pretty clean, and just hangs out on the pedestrian mall all day with a sleeping roll and backpack, and watches people. I wouldn't mind trading places with him for a while, depending on what he's eating for dinner.

Then on the other end of the spectrum, we've got this rather hideous fellow who sits in front of our building in the summers (sigh). He's got some sort of little walker thing and I don't know what his issues are, but he's pretty messed-up - one leg, slack-jawed, half-incoherent, and has a sign that says he's burned. He has a tendancy to call you names if you walk by him without giving him money. In short, it makes the walk outside a little less pleasant.

[UteChief]

Anyone who has been to the Warf in Seattle may know of this guy. He has trained his dog to sit while holding a cup in his mouth, while wearing sunglasses. I think it's pretty neat and will always put some change in the cup. The guy isn't even there most of the time. He just leaves the dog.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by UteChief

Anyone who has been to the Warf in Seattle may know of this guy. He has trained his dog to sit while holding a cup in his mouth, while wearing sunglasses. I think it's pretty neat and will always put some change in the cup. The guy isn't even there most of the time. He just leaves the dog.

That's actually pretty funny.

[ChiefFripp]

Originally Posted by chagrin

We had a dude in Natchitioches, La. who did this all over town. He asked me several times in 4 different parts of the city, to lend him money so he could take his pregnant wife to the hospital.

Funny thing, I moved down here to Orlando and in the first week of me being here (I was living in my car at the time, but it was a Honda, so I guess they figured I had money?) I was approached by several heads asking the same thing.

Orlando blows doesn't it!? I'm glad I'll be heading back to good ole' OP Kansas soon.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Valiant

Which side of Troost, we have a guy that rides a bike and always bums or takes cigs out of the tray, he wears the same metallica shirt all the time so we call him metallica, he is also a drug courior...

Down by Troost and Cleaver II... by the Gates BBQ.... this guy wears an old gray stocking hat.... every damn day of the year.... 100°.... doesn't matter.... gray stocking hat..... He has an old Chiefs jacket, which was our first conversation starter....

[CHENZ A!]

whenever I'm in Westport, there are always the same handful of bums that ask for change. I'll always offer to buy them a bratwurst or a gyro, anything they want, but for some reason they just aren't interested in food.

The only two bums that I have ever given cash to are the dude that breakdances, and the guy that brings an amp and plays electric guitar outside of Kelly's and Buzzard, he's really good and if you ask him, he'll play the guitar with his teeth, like SRV.

[Rausch]

"This homeless guy asked me for money the other day. I was about to give it to him and then I thought he was just going to use it on drugs or alcohol.

And then I thought, that's what I'm going to use it on."

[CHENZ A!]

I almost forgot, I was leaving the Tanners downtown the other day, and some nicely dressed college age kid was asking everyone for money, he was sitting next to this old bum. He just said "C'mon help this guy buy some booze". So a couple of my friends gave them their change, and as we were walking away the kid goes "See, now you only need seven more bucks man!" I was thinking damn, you can get a 40 for $2.35, what was this bum trying to drink?

[Vegas_Dave]

Come walk in Vegas for about an hour, you will get hit up about 25 times an hour with things like this.

[Bugeater]

If any of you female Planeteers are approached by this man, do not fall for it. It's a scam also.