Scam or Not?

deathrider · 15-05-2011 05:52PM

irish-stew wrote: »

Best one I seen was the weekend of a U2 concert in Croke Park. Some fella was selling limited edition U2 cds on O'Connell Bridge for about a tenner. Picked up the same CD in the same packaging my self a week earlier in a sunday paper.

On that note (and a bit off topic, but still)- I had a friend who was trading in a bunch of DVDs in a Gamestop a few years back. Some of them were good DVDs too, limited editions, box-sets, director's cuts, and all that. For the hell of it, he threw in a copy of Highlander that he'd gotten free with a newspaper. He ended up scoring more cash for the Highlander than any of the others.

I know, completely off topic, but I always enjoy telling that story :P

LighterGuy · 15-05-2011 05:54PM

There is this guy and he has been doing this for years in dublin city centre. He comes up to you with the same speech every single time!

"i dont mean to be cheeky, but i am homeless, see" - looks a right shady wan*er.

lastlaugh · 15-05-2011 06:42PM

Oranage2 wrote: »

A lot of these beggars put on dirty ripped clothes just to beg and that goes for the Romas too ~ think of it like a work uniform - if you walk around town latish say 8ish on a weekday - a lot of the beggers are walking around in top clobber -

This dude brought it whole new level though. Remember how cold it was over xmas, you could tell he was suffering pretty badly.

It was kind of offensive looking at him deliberately putting himself though it with the aim of playing off people's sympathy.

I suppose he would treat himself to an extra comfy pair of socks after a long day on the scrounge!

super_furry · 15-05-2011 06:48PM

How about that short oul lad with the jam-jar glasses in Dublin who pretends to be deaf and has a handwritten, laminated begging note he waves under your nose?

leggo · 15-05-2011 07:05PM

deathrider wrote: »

I'm always a bit dogdey about giving stranger anything, and I mean anything. I usually get out of there as soon as they ask. I might seem like a bit of a assh*le, but I think it's for my own safety. Back in my teens a few guys asked me for a smoke. I said "Sorry, lads, I don't smoke", so instead they beat the crap outta me and took my wallet. All I could think was, I should have just gave them a damn smoke!

I love telling annoying teens that I don't smoke. Especially with a smoke in my mouth.

bluecatmorgana · 15-05-2011 07:43PM

super_furry wrote: »

How about that short oul lad with the jam-jar glasses in Dublin who pretends to be deaf and has a handwritten, laminated begging note he waves under your nose?

Yeah, I know were he lives, well he got on the bus in Crumlin one day anyway.

Cianos · 15-05-2011 08:04PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

Anyone see that bloke who was on Grafton Street over Christmas/New Year who was sitting down without any shoes or socks on?

It was absolutely freezing out and he looked like he was going to freeze to death. Apparently he was refusing people giving him shoes rather than money.

Would that be a scam or just stupid?

That guy is actually wearing a pair of these bad boys, sneaky lad.

leggo · 15-05-2011 08:37PM

bluecatmorgana wrote: »

Yeah, I know were he lives, well he got on the bus in Crumlin one day anyway.

That doesn't really qualify as knowing where someone lives, in fairness. It's like saying to someone "I know what you had for breakfast: food and/or drink!"

iamstop · 15-05-2011 08:52PM

Was working in the States in a restaurant and a lad came in while we were quiet going on about working next door and no money, needed taxi fare, $50 will pay back tomorrow etc.
I didn't do anything but the girl I worked with gave it to him. Next day we found out he'd done the same to about 8 or 10 places in the same neighbourhood.

AlkalineAcid · 15-05-2011 10:04PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

The guy that winds me up is the tall skinny guy with black hair who comes up to you in Dublin and in an fake English accent says: "Excuse me, can I ask you something.." Always outside the Savoy & Gresham.

Wanker!

What's his story? He's asked me that three times in different places from Henry St to Phibsboro but I've always told him no. I was almost beginning to worry he had something important to tell me.

enfield · 15-05-2011 10:30PM

This type of thing is common and the best way to handle it is to ask him does he mind if your take his photograph? No scammers would not mind. Then if he does not give you 200 smackers you can pass his pic to the fuzz.
Tom

Tayla · 15-05-2011 10:34PM

CorkMan wrote: »

I would not give him the money, sounds like a bullsh*tter.

I remember before a romanian guy was going around to people with a picture of his supposed sick daughter, asking people for 2 euros. I thought about giving him money but didn't. Saw him years later doing the same thing.

They always do that, they sometimes have notes written out which they hand to you to read which has a sob story written on it.

In France they do the same thing except over there they have someone who will try to pickpocket you while you are reading the note!

F_Fitzy · 15-05-2011 10:46PM

Similar scams have happened to me twice in Dublin. Once a french man and his girlfriend came up to me near busaras. He explained that they were short a few euro for the bus and asked me quietly, politely and embarrassed for some spare change. I took out my wallet and spilled all the change out (It probably added up for 4 or 5 euro). I gave it to him, saying thats its all i had. He and the girlfriend burst out laughing, to my shock, and wandered away from the bus station with my money. I was 17 or 18 at the time, when 5 euro was a lot more money to me than it is now!

The second time it happened makes my blood boil now. It was a young man in heuston station, probably 18 or 19 at the time, was a couple of years ago. It was a similar situation, he was out the night before, lost his wallet, and just needed a couple of euro for the train. I gave him 3 or 4 euro, and thought nothing else of it. Since then, ive been asked by the same guy twice, as has my sister in heuston, and a friend at the tesco in newbridge. I shudder to think how much this guy has made from tricking dopes like me. Thankfully, my sister went mad at him after the poor bloke approached her for the second time!

15-05-2011 10:59PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

Anyone see that bloke who was on Grafton Street over Christmas/New Year who was sitting down without any shoes or socks on?

It was absolutely freezing out and he looked like he was going to freeze to death. Apparently he was refusing people giving him shoes rather than money.

Would that be a scam or just stupid?

Yeah I think he's been given a pair of socks by just about everyone in Dublin.

Thing is, even knowing that the barefoot thing was for show, during the snow around Christmas I figured ah well, even if he is a chancer, he must have been freezing so I asked him if he wanted a cup of tea - He had one hidden behind his back!

The man probably wants for nothing!

Oranage2 · 15-05-2011 11:13PM

enfield wrote: »

This type of thing is common and the best way to handle it is to ask him does he mind if your take his photograph? No scammers would not mind. Then if he does not give you 200 smackers you can pass his pic to the fuzz.
Tom

Wrong - the way to deal with it is to just say no!

OutlawPete · 16-05-2011 12:05AM

hondasam wrote: »

what did he ask you ?

Oh he just prattles on about hostel's if you let him.

AlkalineAcid wrote: »

What's his story? He's asked me that three times in different places from Henry St to Phibsboro but I've always told him no. I was almost beginning to worry he had something important to tell me.

Yeah, asked me three times last week could he tell me something in the space of 15 minutes at different points of O'Connell St. I always say either: "I have no money!" bluntly as he's gets to 'Can I ask you'. His expression changes instantly and he turns and looks for more potential targets. He pays no attention to who he asks, hence why he ends up asking the same people a few times in a row. Last week I said: "Mate, you're entitled to the very same money from the state that I'm entitled to, go get it and leave me alone". I used to give people money, but I have changed a lot and now don't give money to anyone, accept Mary in alley off Grafton St the odd time.

true-or-false wrote: »

Yeah I think he's been given a pair of socks by just about everyone in Dublin.

Seen the cops telling him to put his shoes on once. He was sitting on them. Used to be a foreign pretending he had no legs on Moore St a few years back. Have a mad story about that guy. Him and his mates use to run the three card trick scam users pieces of foam. Costs €50 to enter and you win €50 if you guess which one has the white mark on the bottom. Now I used to do that trick at school on my mates with two Jacks and an Ace, so I know how's it done.

So walked up one day and a few people were winning the €50. Brazilian guy I knew to see from the Bookies there (a surgeon of all things, but you'd never guess it) was there convinced he was going to win and before I could tell him the scam, he lost €50. He fell for the usual show of loads of people winning (all in on it of course). So, I briefly told him how to tell which one it was and he says he's having €50 on that throw down and so do I. Bet excepted and we both pick the one on the left and the lads faces drop and they pick up their cardboard box and starting walking away. The Surgeon guy is losing his mind and starts saying he'll get them shot and the guy with no legs suddenly sprouts two and says: "We are just poor people trying to make a living, you rich and €50's no problem" :rolleyes:

Another shower of fcukers are the family who case Abbey St all the time. They all look very similar, quite striking looking and most of the sisters have long black hair and brown eyes. They should take up acting as the first time I came across one of them, she told me her father had kicked her out and was abusing her little sister. She asked me for money towards a hostel and I said if she gave me the name of it that I would phone up and pay for one for the night (genuinely, I wasn't trying to call her bluff). Well, she lost the head and stormed off. Have seen that family around now for a few years since. Side of the central bank with a baby is one of the more regular haunts these days.

Anyone see that new free food chuck wagon that is going around now. Mobile cafe for the homeless, seen it last week. There are quite a few groups now that give out free food and blankets etc. Think I'd rather give my money there than directly to anyone that is homeless tbh.

http://www.dubsimon.ie/Services/SoupRun.aspx

ger-h · 16-05-2011 12:46AM

lastlaugh wrote: »

Anyone see that bloke who was on Grafton Street over Christmas/New Year who was sitting down without any shoes or socks on?

It was absolutely freezing out and he looked like he was going to freeze to death. Apparently he was refusing people giving him shoes rather than money.

Would that be a scam or just stupid?

I bought that sob a pair of shoes and socks! He took them and legged it up the road.

Two days later, i seen him with no shoes or socks. Felt like steppin on the c*nts toes, didnt coz i was too ashamed that i feel for that!

The King of Moo · 16-05-2011 12:53AM

OP's story is very similar to a common scam that scammers have tried to pull on me on two separate occassions. Worried lookin guy tells you he's run out of petrol and had to leave his wife and baby in the car and could you please give him €20 for petrol and he'll send you the money on when he gets home, keeps apologising the whole time.
Politely refused the first time as the guy put on a good act and a part of me thought it might have been true. No doubts the second time though.

Then about a year ago I knew a guy who had once genuinely run out of petrol and, I think, left his wallet at home, and had to ask people nearby for money or if they'd go buy petrol for him, and of course everyone thought he was scamming!
Then another time, the poor guy was about to get a train in Barcelona and noticed he'd been pickpocketed! After much begging around he managed to gather enough money for a ticket.
Couldn't believe he'd genuinely got into both such suspicious situations, but he was an honest guy who wouldn't make it up.

flahavaj · 16-05-2011 12:54AM

I've had the same unbelieveably knackery looking bird come up to me a few times around Parnell St asking for a euro for the bus. But the strange thing is she pits on the most over-exaggerated D4 southside accent on, as if thats going to make people more inclined to give her money. Always found it very odd, though it must somehow work for her or why would she keep doing it?

The King of Moo · 16-05-2011 01:05AM

flahavaj wrote: »

I've had the same unbelieveably knackery looking bird come up to me a few times around Parnell St asking for a euro for the bus. But the strange thing is she pits on the most over-exaggerated D4 southside accent on, as if thats going to make people more inclined to give her money. Always found it very odd, though it must somehow work for her or why would she keep doing it?

Probably one of the girls from Fade Street on that Anonymous programme. Jason Byrne is screaming in her ear to lose the accent but she just can't manage it.

Delancey · 16-05-2011 02:45AM

Busaras is the pits for this shyte - if they're not scamming bus fare then they're begging cigarettes - fuck them all

deathrider · 16-05-2011 03:08AM

enfield wrote: »

This type of thing is common and the best way to handle it is to ask him does he mind if your take his photograph? No scammers would not mind. Then if he does not give you 200 smackers you can pass his pic to the fuzz.
Tom

Hmmm, I see flaws in your logic.

Turpentine · 16-05-2011 03:10AM

"Wallet Inspector"

Coriolanus · 16-05-2011 03:42AM

Was in OHare airport recently waiting when a guy sat down beside me looking for $11.50 for a bus ticket home. Looked legit enough but I didn't have any cash on me and wasn't arsed getting to an ATM. He apologised for disturbing me and moved on.
Two minutes later and armed policeman sat down and asked had he been looking for money. I said yeah, not really thinking much of it, but then he marched off, grabbed a buddy and arrested the guy.

Scam or Not?

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