Dublin's latest scam

The Corinthian wrote:

He’s been working the city centre for a few years now and seems to specialize in short cons, such as the one you described. I’ve personally run into him so many times at this stage that he recognizes me and will joke about not wasting each other’s time.

On old friend once described it me as protection money. His reasoning, which makes sense, is stop giving such individuals money and they’ll have to find another source of income and oddly enough this is unlikely to be a job. As a result many will turn to crime, often violent.

For example, in the case of Romany Gypsies in Italy, as Italians are not terribly predisposed to giving them money they’ve turned to a number of other trades of which the most infamous are pick-pocketing and child kidnapping / trafficking.

The Corinthian wrote:

Nonetheless, I know what I would probably do to solve the problem, but I suspect it would cause me to end up in the Hague.

The Corinthian wrote:

On old friend once described it me as protection money. His reasoning, which makes sense, is stop giving such individuals money and they’ll have to find another source of income and oddly enough this is unlikely to be a job. As a result many will turn to crime, often violent.

For example, in the case of Romany Gypsies in Italy, as Italians are not terribly predisposed to giving them money they’ve turned to a number of other trades of which the most infamous are pick-pocketing and child kidnapping / trafficking.

RuggieBear wrote:

Actually i was stopped by a guy near Bray Dart station a few years aback looking for money for a bus....he told me he was a drug addict and needed to get to a hospital coz he was having delusions and hurting himself. He then rolled up the sleeve on his left arm where he had cut himself every cm or so, all the way up his arm, from his wrist to his shoulder...most were quite shallow but some were gaping wide and a few he had "stitched" together with a piece of old string. Probably the most disgusting thing i've ever seen up close.

I gave him his bus fare.

Blisterman wrote:

I hate the beggers who ask you why? When you say you're not giving them any money. And walk doen the street beside you.

About two months ago, my friend and I were walking down abbey street, beside Bus Aras. A man stopped us. He was very panicky, and upset. He was of slim build, early - mid forties, and darkish hair. He spoke with a strong Scottish accent. He told us that he had just arrived in Ireland today, and he had got his bag robbed, which contained his phone, wallet, money etc. He had managed to find a hostel that would let him say without any I.D but he had no money to pay for it, and could we loan him some money.

Now, I'm ashamed to say usually I wouldn't give someone who stopped me on the street money, but I felt so sorry for him. You could tell he was really upset, as he nearly started crying. To be honest, it was his panic that made me give him some money. My friend and I gave him about five euro, and I felt guilty that I hadn't been able to give him more, as I could just imagine how horrible it would be, to be in a strange city, and be in that situation.

Two weeks ago, I met a friend of mine, and she began telling me a story of how she had got stopped by a man near Grafton street. She was describing him, and it struck me that his description was a lot like the "poor Scottish man" my friend and I had encountered. And she continued telling me how he had just arrived in Dublin, from Glasgow, his bags had been robbed, he had no money, or passport, but luckily had found a hostel that he could stay in with out I.D, he just needed some money to pay for it. You can imagine my shock, at realising I had been taken for a fool.

I have a feeling that this may have happened to a lot of other people. I know alot of you will probably think i was stupid for falling for his story, but i have to say he does it very well, any normally i wouldn't believe things like that.

Anyway, i was wondering has anyone else met this scottish scammer??