Been tricked

[john widow]

What can I do to get revenge on someone who I lent money to. The guy is a stranger....so I am pretty dumb for doing it in the first place. I got a number, but all I get is a voice message after 5 or so rings and the mail box is full. No answer.

[recordman]

How much was it? I doubt you'd get it back. Curious why you would lend money to a stranger and expect to get it back. Learn your lesson and move on. Forget about revenge.

[john widow]

Yeah, gotta learn from this. I'm just real pissed. That guy should die.

[mcewen]

Hey John... I can't get to the bank before next thursday,.... do you think you could lend me a few dollars to get me through?

I'm good for it... really.

[seshwan]

I'm a little short this week too John. You think you could help me out?

[flimbs]

Happened to me once too. I pulled an all-nighter studying for a big exam so the next morning I was completely zonked out. A well-dressed man came up to me and explained to me that he needed to get uptown and he just lost his wallet. Out of the kindness of my heart (blah), I lent him $20, and he was so happy that he said that he'd pay me back $50, so he asked for my school name and my name as well. Being COMPELETELY out of it, I didn't ask for his info or any collateral. I just trusted him, then went home and slept.

It wasn't until later that I realized that I had been duped. I was pissed off too, but y'know what? Since then, I've become much more weary and atuned to scams and all the bullsh*t that just doesn't fly. The way I see it, I invested $20 in myself to avoid being scammed in the future.

How much did you lend out? I say, just let it go. Like you said, don't forget the lesson.

[ullyeus]

I have the perfect plan, it just costs about $50 or so but you'll get back almost $500! msg me for details!

[napoleonz]

Just get over it. :)

[startac8000]

Do it the old fashion way. Break his legs! :)

[drowsy]

People on this forum are so unbelievably helpful :arrowd:

[john widow]

Well, I'll update in a bit because someone finally answered the phone.

[sammy]

couple of years ago, this guy in a suit stands outside the subway, smiles at me and asked for bus fare because he forgot to bring enough money with him. i was about to say ok to $2 and change but he smiles and wanted $5 so i said no and walked on. if this was really legit, he should be asking the TTC collector to let him through.

[radeonboy]

Well I haven't een tricked yet. I don't give out big sums. This kid asked me if I had 25 cents, so I gave him it.

The only time I can give a bit more is to the poor, someone sitting on the road or inside the bus station.

That is all. I will never ever give out a big sum, unless I have it that they will pay back in writing, even if its family.

[john widow]

Let's share all our stories of lending money to people thinking it's a good cause.

I remember one time I was sitting down on a bench in a mall. Some old guy sits down next to me. Introduces himself saying he's from toronto or ontario and asks for bus money. Even makes me shake his hand..........:( Anyways, I give him some money so he will just go away. I see him asking others later.

[konfusion666]

Why is this in Personal Finance? Should be in Off-Topic along with all the GF/BF-Broke-Up-With-Me stories, etc.

[john widow]

Because I thought it relates to personal MONEY more than girlfriend boyfriend drama stuff.

[controlyar]

This is just another john widow thread.
Ignore the OP. Another mindless story.

[sonypcs]

There are already few cases in scarborough where a guy ask for gas money with a house key for $ 20 and another guy said his ATM has his funds on hold and he needs $ 20 for his dinner...

Another scenario that happens to me is a begger who carries a long baton (wooden stick) and ask for dinner when I was trying to put some gas into your car....he told me he was very hungry and grabs his dinner at the gas bar (appox $ 15), after that, he ask you to pay for it...and when i ask the gas attendent why he need to do this and he told me he do this every single day, just think you are out of luck...boo=(

[jasira]

couple of years ago, this guy in a suit stands outside the subway, smiles at me and asked for bus fare because he forgot to bring enough money with him. i was about to say ok to $2 and change but he smiles and wanted $5 so i said no and walked on. if this was really legit, he should be asking the TTC collector to let him through.

Something similar happen to me in the subway as well. This young guy asked me to lend him money for the TTC because he was short. He was decently dressed and looked like he was really in a bind but unfortunately for him, I had no change so I had to pass him by.

However, after that I kept seeing him in the subway station few other days asking people money because he was short of TTC fare. That's when I realized that he was just scamming people. I think I saw him at least 10 different times asking for money. How can you forget to bring money 10 different times? Because he wasn't dressed like a bum or a beggar, people were more likely to help him out.

My friend fell for his act and was going to give him money but I stopped him by exposing him to be a scam and then I never saw the guy in that same station again.

[john widow]

Oh yeah...that reminds me. I remember this guy approaching me saying he's out of gas and needs money for gas...I met the same guy twice, same reason. How is that possible? And dude, if you're outta gas and outta money and your an adult, your pretty stupid for an adult. Even kids are smarter.

I think the guy approached me, whatever happened, really did happen. I think he's just a jerk for not actually paying me back. Or at least delaying it.

[15-20_God]

Even kids are smarter.

I think the guy approached me, whatever happened, really did happen. I think he's just a jerk for not actually paying me back. Or at least delaying it.

this qualifies for misstatement of the day.

[mork]

There are already few cases in scarborough where a guy ask for gas money with a house key for $ 20 and another guy said his ATM has his funds on hold and he needs $ 20 for his dinner...

Another scenario that happens to me is a begger who carries a long baton (wooden stick) and ask for dinner when I was trying to put some gas into your car....he told me he was very hungry and grabs his dinner at the gas bar (appox $ 15), after that, he ask you to pay for it...and when i ask the gas attendent why he need to do this and he told me he do this every single day, just think you are out of luck...boo=(

how expensive are dinners where you're from!? Beggers asking for $15 to eat dinner out of a convenience store!? You should let him know he can eat for much less and much finer establishments.

[Aske001]

I've had visitors to Vancouver tell me how they helped out some poor fellow on the street whose car had run out of gas by loaning him $20, and he was very sincere and he showed them his car keys and everything, and he was going to get the money right back to them. I told them that they'd just been entertained by a bit of street theatre, and they should consider the $20 their donation to the performer. :)

Seriously, there's a sensible rule you should always follow in life: If you loan money to anybody on a non-business basis, because they're family or a friend, you must write that money off in your mind and never, ever mention it again. No good can come of worrying about it. It's a happy surprise if you are ever paid back. If you truly can't afford to loan it, just say No with a clear conscience. Your life will be happier if you follow this advice.

[nolookingca]

<snip>
I met the same guy twice, same reason. How is that possible?
<snip>
I think the guy approached me, whatever happened, really did happen. I think he's just a jerk for not actually paying me back. Or at least delaying it.

Uhh....you already came to the correct conclusion that it's not possible for this guy's car to keep running out of gas, but yet you still believed him?

This is just another john widow thread.
Ignore the OP. Another mindless story.

Remember the classics - "What is a credit card?" and "What is a chequing account?"? :cry: >:( :(
Makes for fun reading though. :D

[dbreaka]

I don't know if these guys are scammers or not, but....

Whenever i'm driving and exiting the highway at various exits, I see individuals with their dogs in the cold (btw, i'm thinking what did the dog do to deserve this) asking for money. I usually give them a buck or two because I figured even if they're scammers, they'll need the money if they have to resort to doing that.

[konfusion666]

how expensive are dinners where you're from!? Beggers asking for $15 to eat dinner out of a convenience store!? You should let him know he can eat for much less and much finer establishments.

lolz... when i spend $15 on a lunch, it's considered "eating well"... :o

[Rosico]

I don't know if these guys are scammers or not, but....

Whenever i'm driving and exiting the highway at various exits, I see individuals with their dogs in the cold (btw, i'm thinking what did the dog do to deserve this) asking for money. I usually give them a buck or two because I figured even if they're scammers, they'll need the money if they have to resort to doing that.

Ya - I see this at the major exits in Toronto sometimes. I keep a box of granola bars in my car to give to them when they say they are hungry.

[hightechfan]

What can I do to get revenge on someone who I lent money to. The guy is a stranger....so I am pretty dumb for doing it in the first place. I got a number, but all I get is a voice message after 5 or so rings and the mail box is full. No answer.

How much did you give him.

[ShopperfiendTO]

Because I thought it relates to personal MONEY more than girlfriend boyfriend drama stuff.

I agree that this thread isn't off-topic.

I think sharing scam stories is great as it helps others from falling for them. Like the cartoon segments in G.I. Joe preached "Knowledge is Power".

My brother gets scammed a lot too (over $20 each).

There was this one time where a couple approached him on his drive into the parking alley saying that they were from out of the province and their car was towed and they needed the money to get to the impound (or pay the impound fee or whatever). He bought their sob story, forked over the cash and they came back the next day asking for more. The nerve! What's worse is that because of this scam, distrust brews and so those who honestly find themselves in these predicaments are left without getting any "help from the kindness of strangers".

He confessed that some of his "donations" to them and others was just to get rid of them, which I think is worse. It's not like he's rich. Luckily he now has a wife who is scam-wary to protect him, lol.

Any charity you give should be directed to an actual registered charity to ensure that the funds are being used as they were intended.

[flito ray]

Hey John... I can't get to the bank before next thursday,.... do you think you could lend me a few dollars to get me through?

I'm good for it... really.

geez are u the guy who scammed him?

[kingsley]

Any charity you give should be directed to an actual registered charity to ensure that the funds are being used as they were intended.

A lot of charities are scams. 70-90% of their donations go to "administration". The only charity I would donate to would be the food bank and even then I would only donate food and not money.

[smilodon]

This is just another john widow thread.
Ignore the OP. Another mindless story.

Haha... indeed, it's getting his post count up :) Here's me doing exactly the same thing... UP by one!

[15-20_God]

a fool and his money........

[downatone]

A lot of charities are scams. 70-90% of their donations go to "administration".

Thats just a bit of a misguided, unfounded - blanket statement. :|

[mik3]

ooh i got a story.

so im walkin out of a store, and this really well dressed dude comes up and asks if i need some gucci clothing because he needs to get rid of it, so me not thinking anything i come up to his brand new jeep and he shows me these 3 leather jackets, with gucci tags, neatly wrapped up all looking very nice. he gave the story that he was at some gucci convention thing and they gave these to him as presents, but he can't take them with him back home (italy) because of taxes he'd have to pay for them... so he sold them to me for 200$... :*( later found out they were all fakes when i closely looked at the stiching and the tags... i felt so embarassed and stupid for falling into that.. i aint giving money away to anyone on the street ever again. ever.

[ShopperfiendTO]

Something similar happen to me in the subway as well. This young guy asked me to lend him money for the TTC because he was short. He was decently dressed and looked like he was really in a bind but unfortunately for him, I had no change so I had to pass him by.

However, after that I kept seeing him in the subway station few other days asking people money because he was short of TTC fare. That's when I realized that he was just scamming people. I think I saw him at least 10 different times asking for money. How can you forget to bring money 10 different times? Because he wasn't dressed like a bum or a beggar, people were more likely to help him out.

My friend fell for his act and was going to give him money but I stopped him by exposing him to be a scam and then I never saw the guy in that same station again.

To add to this, if you really feel sorry for the person, take him/her with you to the turnstile and pay his/her fare. This way you *know* you provided exactly what you had intended. You'll also know if the person is telling the truth because if he/she refuses, then it's the money and not the purported ride that he/she is after. The money might be to get bread and milk or to feed a crack habit, the point is that you intended your charity for the ride.

I know it sounds creepy to force someone to go with you if he/she wants the benefit, but if the person was really that desperate for the ride and needed to resort to begging to get it, he/she should gladly accompany you to the turnstile, especially with the safety of the ticket booth operator as a witness should he/she think that you're trying to kidnap her or that you're psycho or something.

Also, you may think that "what's $2.50 anyway?" but don't just think of yourself... multiply other bleeding hearts' contributions and you may have contributed to him/her being able to get his/her crack fix for the day and delay his/her need for treatment/assistance that much longer.

I repeat that I am not unsympathetic to the less fortunate; what I despise and will always champion is the eradication of these scammers so that those who are actually in need for gainful assistance get the true sympathies they deserve, not the scammers pretending that they in need.

Does anyone know the story of the deaf people who go into restaurants and hand out those paper requests? Are they actually deaf?

[Agent_J]

Does anyone know the story of the deaf people who go into restaurants and hand out those paper requests? Are they actually deaf?
I dunno, but you could always test it out. Tell the 'deaf' person I will give you a $200 if you repeat after me..."....whatever you have in mind" :lol:

[weales]

I think sharing scam stories is great as it helps others from falling for them. Like the cartoon segments in G.I. Joe preached "Knowledge is Power".


Wasn't it like this :?:

Dumbass kid: NOW I KNOW!
Gi JOE Character: And knowing is half the battle.

GGGGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOE!

[fsdhy]

I would never lend money to someone that I don't already know is good for it. However, one time I was in downtown Montreal after a Canadiens game and I had to sleep on a park bench for a few hours because I missed my ride and had to wait for the bus. I was probably asked for money 30 times that night. I didn't give anything until this one guy came and sat down beside me. We had a smoke and started chatting about the usual ********. He had a bottle and offered me a swig. He mentioned how he made 7$ today and had just enough to get himself a bottle. He didn't make enough to feed his "other" habit. That man's honesty earned him a twenty.

I have no problem helping people out, its their dishonesty that makes me angry.