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Sob-story couple hooks one at South Station
By adamg on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 9:05am
Basically a man (40ish, gray hair) and a woman (who looked a little like Julianne Moore) approached me and told me their bag was stolen, they needed money to take a cab home, and they would pay me back for it later. They showed me a fake police report, gave me their cell number (which has a voicemail box that isn't set up), and texted me their address in Marlborough (a house which is up for sale).
I thought to myself, this is a little weird, but hey, maybe these people really DO need help.
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Comments
from reddit comments
I see them often
They are shameless. The only sob story guy I loathe more is the "need money to see my dying grandmother in Springfield/money for rehab in Springfield/Worcester etc" guy
Sadly,
That guy is epic. Even my visiting relatives have endured and reported back. And yes, some of them caved.
Don't give any of them money
I volunteer at homeless shelters here in the city. That's about the only thing I'll give the homeless here: volunteer time.
The people with the sob stories at South Station, and the guys holding up the signs at the red lights are usually addicted to some drug.
Food
ain't bad too. If someone is hungry I don't fault them, even if an addict. But yes, NEVER HAND OUT MONEY or other items, since they're just be bartered away for drugs.
Likewise in the comments, for the truly needed help them contact 211. There's lots of services this city provides for the homeless or even those in a jam.
Last, A one way ticket averages about $8 to the end of the line last time I checked. You wouldn't give them $40 for a gallon of milk, would you? Common sense people.
The police report should have
The police report should have been a hint they were bogus. Real cops would have arranged them a ride home.
It's too bad that there are
It's too bad that there are so many scamming people out there because you don't know when someone is really in need. When I was in highschool, I gave a "homeless" person $5 and then saw them hop in to a Lexus. Lesson learned and will never give money again. However, I will offer to get them a sandwich or a water/soda and most of the time they say no. If they were really in need, they would take it. If they weren't hungry at the moment, they would take it and save it for later. I haven't had to buy many sandwiches and it helps me weed out the scammers. I know in this case that isn't helpful but I probably still wouldn't have given them money. :) -Mea www.hertrainstories.blogspot.com
Karma Laundering
Most panhandling is street theater for your benefit. It is designed such that if you give them money, you will feel good about yourself. Most of the people out there running scams are needy and "down and out" to be sure, but they are still able to be out there performing karma laundering services for those who will give them money.
Give to the groups that help both those who are physically able to be out there panhandling and those who are not with basic needs and social support if you want to do something meaningful. Even $0.25 to 0.50 a workday ($50-100), written as a yearly check to a shelter, goes a lot further than if just dropped in a cup.
I had an encounter with these
I had an encounter with these people outside the Copley Station around 1 am a couple months ago. They said they missed the commuter rail and needed $100 to ride a cab back to Marlborough. They flashed their I.D.s, gave their numbers, and said to either text or call them so they could mail the money back. I said I did not have cash and they insisted that I go to the ATM nearby. Didn't they have a bank card in their possession to get money from the ATM? They also could have called home to arrange a ride.
I never give money to sob story folks in these situations.
I usually just direct them to the Travelers' Aid folks at South Station.
they've stepped up their game apparently
ive run into them before.. but they were only asking for money for a commuterrail - not $80-$100 cab rides. or maybe they change their story depending on who they approach. i probably looked like a poor student. anyway, they were pretty convincing and i think i gave them 4 bucks.
i realized later it had to be a scam..
I ran into them too. He said
I ran into them too. He said "Excuse me sir, I have a job, I don't do drugs, I smell good, and we need to get a cab back to Marlborough..." at which point I just continued to walk away.
Riddle me this
An dude came up to me outside South Station last week asking for a moment of my time and could he tell me a riddle, I told him I'm not interested and he left. Bunch of weirdos around there.
And yet, sometimes it's worth it.
A woman approached me on the train and politely asked if she could say something to me. Gritting my teeth and preparing for some scam or other, I begrudgingly said "OK."
She said, "I believe that God delights in you and that He wants you to know that!"
and then got off the train. No pitch, no tract, just that.
Even though I am not religious in any usual sense, I carried that message of positive affirmation, with a smile, for the rest of the day.
Free hugs
I am curious about those "free hug" people that can often be seen on the Boston Common and elsewhere. Are they giving "free hugs" just to do it, or is there a motive involved? They usually look like college students. Maybe they write papers about people's reactions or something.
Know Your Meme!
The Free Hugs Campaign.
I learned a long time ago not
I learned a long time ago not to give to 'homeless' folks. Its not that I am unsympathetic to these folks, but honestly, if they truely were homeless, they wouldn't be pan handling, and be at a shelter. Most homeless you see late at night panhandling refuse to go to shelters to get help. Either they don't want to abide by the shelters rules or refuse to be substance free or some such craziness. In short, they CHOOSE to be homeless. There's a ton of help out there, some people rather just beg for cash with their sob story.
Some just don't want help.. its like that guy from last year... Ted Williams. After much ado about nothing, and him landing a job etc etc... come to find out, he was a deadbeat dad and the gov't was going to suck all the money he made (and would have made) to pay back child support. So his reply "fuck it, was easier being homeless". Nice huh?
And some of these 'beggers' are just scammers trying to scam money. There was an article (I wish i could find it) from years ago that interviewed some of these folks, many of them make 100+ a day panhandling and don't stop because its a easy way to get cash. So sit on your ass and beg for money or actually get off your ass and get a job? Which one is the easier way out? I don't think I need to answer that...
I don't necessarily disagree with you
Just know that a lot of the shelters are bad news, and that many people get their things stolen there. For a lot of them, it's not worth it.
I give money to the drunks
And honest bums. (They're bumming money.)
If they're polite and honest I'll hook em up.
Some of them are never getting help or sobering up and if a drink eases their burden who am I to judge?
Pulled up to some guys waiting for the Long Island bus around Thanksgiving a few years back.
Gave a couple guys a 20 and made their fucking night. No shelter for them.
On the other hand I recoil like a cobra when I hear the sob stories.
I got nothing for ya man.
This is a total scam. Seen it
This is a total scam.
Seen it a few times now (different people).
Next time take their pics & post it on line.
Too Bad
These people are the reason why I (and most people) around South Station just look straight and barrel through the crowd. Trying to be friendly in Boston just gets you scammed, especially around South Station.