I know that all big cities have some kind of street scam artist going on. I was recently reminded of that this afternoon. Just wondering what your experience with street scams has been?
I happen to be in Montreal at the moment. I was approached by a young indian man in his mid 20's this afternoon (Jan 15th) who was waiting in the lobby of my building. I first thought it strange that a person was waiting beyond the secured door so I waited a minute before exiting the building. He was still standing there when I opened the door.
The conversation went something like this:
Guy: Excuse me, but my wallet was stolen. Do you have 5 CAD so I can get home.
Me: Sorry I can't help you
Guy: But you live in a nice building and you can't help me just get home to Laval. I'm a real estate agent and I'm just trying to get home.
Me: I'm on my way to the metro. I can buy you a ticket.
Guy: I have a friend in this building so I have to wait here to see if they are home.
I then walked away to the metro station and purchased a metro ticket and then walked back to my building to give it to the guy.
As I was walked back to my building, I saw the same guy getting 5 CAD from an old woman on the street. Apparently he just told the same woman the story.
I gave the guy the metro ticket and said that he could get home now.
I noticed that he had a cell phone on him, so I asked him for his name and number.
He said his name was George and he gave me a number.
I dialed the number from my cell phone and it didn't go through.
I gave him my cell phone number and asked him to call me. He didn't try to call me.
(The number I have is for a TEMP FIDO number for Montreal)
At this point, he gave me back the metro card I just gave him and said never mind and tried to walk away.
I said to him that now I'm beginning to think this is some sort of scam as I saw the old woman give him the 5 CAD and I gave him a ticket to ride the metro so what is he still doing here.
He couldn't think of an answer and walked away.
I let him walk around the corner and then I followed him. Around the corner I saw him talking to other people. I imagine telling them about needing 5 CAD to get home. He spotted me and started walking quickly away. He made it around another corner and then I lost track of him.
I happened to be walking around with my leatherman at the moment. I'm not sure if I would have used it if I had caught up to him. Is it a big deal to knife a thief on the street and leave them bleeding?
Being from NYC I'm familiar with this scam and have been approached in the past. It's funny that whenever I offer to buy them a ticket home they refuse and immediately try to get away.
What would you have done?
- CWipes
I happen to be in Montreal at the moment. I was approached by a young indian man in his mid 20's this afternoon (Jan 15th) who was waiting in the lobby of my building. I first thought it strange that a person was waiting beyond the secured door so I waited a minute before exiting the building. He was still standing there when I opened the door.
The conversation went something like this:
Guy: Excuse me, but my wallet was stolen. Do you have 5 CAD so I can get home.
Me: Sorry I can't help you
Guy: But you live in a nice building and you can't help me just get home to Laval. I'm a real estate agent and I'm just trying to get home.
Me: I'm on my way to the metro. I can buy you a ticket.
Guy: I have a friend in this building so I have to wait here to see if they are home.
I then walked away to the metro station and purchased a metro ticket and then walked back to my building to give it to the guy.
As I was walked back to my building, I saw the same guy getting 5 CAD from an old woman on the street. Apparently he just told the same woman the story.
I gave the guy the metro ticket and said that he could get home now.
I noticed that he had a cell phone on him, so I asked him for his name and number.
He said his name was George and he gave me a number.
I dialed the number from my cell phone and it didn't go through.
I gave him my cell phone number and asked him to call me. He didn't try to call me.
(The number I have is for a TEMP FIDO number for Montreal)
At this point, he gave me back the metro card I just gave him and said never mind and tried to walk away.
I said to him that now I'm beginning to think this is some sort of scam as I saw the old woman give him the 5 CAD and I gave him a ticket to ride the metro so what is he still doing here.
He couldn't think of an answer and walked away.
I let him walk around the corner and then I followed him. Around the corner I saw him talking to other people. I imagine telling them about needing 5 CAD to get home. He spotted me and started walking quickly away. He made it around another corner and then I lost track of him.
I happened to be walking around with my leatherman at the moment. I'm not sure if I would have used it if I had caught up to him. Is it a big deal to knife a thief on the street and leave them bleeding?
Being from NYC I'm familiar with this scam and have been approached in the past. It's funny that whenever I offer to buy them a ticket home they refuse and immediately try to get away.
What would you have done?
- CWipes
