Berlin Scams be WARNED
Aug 5th, 2006, 06:42 AM
#41
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Miss Prism, I was once coming out of lunch with a friend at Fraunces Tavern in New York and was stopped by a man as I was making my way to a SS Seaport bus stop. He was a very elegant, older black man who spoke with a voice that was commanding and and melifluous. For about 10 minutes he regaled me with his story--which I cannot now recall in any particular.
Fearing I would miss my bus, I stopped him with a $20 bill, thanking him for the wonderful entertainment and complimenting him on his delivery. He gave me a wide smile and a stage bow that was so perfect I realized he was either an actor or former actor.
As far as I was concerned, he earned the money.
Fearing I would miss my bus, I stopped him with a $20 bill, thanking him for the wonderful entertainment and complimenting him on his delivery. He gave me a wide smile and a stage bow that was so perfect I realized he was either an actor or former actor.
As far as I was concerned, he earned the money.
Aug 5th, 2006, 07:02 AM
#42
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Robespierre---what kind of ridiculous sweeping generalization is that? <b>It's called a <i>maxim</i>. Perhaps you've heard of them.</b>
I guess you've never been the victim of fraud. <b>You'd be right.</b>
I guess you've never been the victim of fraud. <b>You'd be right.</b>
Aug 5th, 2006, 07:10 AM
#43
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LMAO, Wow who falls for that, thank god for the New York upbringing. we learn that at about age 4-5 to keep away from that crap.
Thats no Berlin scam, that can be found all over the world. Wow I am shocked people fall for this.
Thats no Berlin scam, that can be found all over the world. Wow I am shocked people fall for this.
Aug 5th, 2006, 07:16 AM
#45
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I never fall pray to any one on the street, no matter what their story is. I made an exception in San Juan, Costa Rica when a young American man approached us telling us that he was trying to find meet up with his father who missed the plane and he had no money for food and was starving.
He asked for money to eat, but instead we walked him to a nearby restaurant and told him that we would pay for his food - no liquor. You ordered at the counter and they brought it to your table. He ordered about $35 worth of food and we suspected that maybe he would not take cancel all of part of his order after we had paid and left. So we told the counter man to give him $10 worth of food. The young man, rather than being thankful, was very upset. I felt like a jerk for even offering to help. We gave waited until he got his food, paid the guy and left.
DH works in downtown San Francisco and is constantly being accosted by beggars. He ignores them and keeps walking. One time after he had walk right passed a beggar, he realized that the fellow had asked him something with a French accent.
He walked back to him and asked what he wanted. The poor Frenchman was a visitor and couldn't figure out how to use a payphone on the street. He had the money, but was very confused. DH of course apologized to him and helped him with the phone.
DH explained to him how so many of his country men had helped us on the street, directions, etc.. Apparently he had asked numerous passersby and was surprised that not one person, except DH, had even acknowledged him.
The fellow was dressed in jeans, but was clean. Too bad he picked an area with so many beggars, in comparison, a lot more than we have seen on one block in Paris. They are also a lot more vocal and 'pushy' here.
Nina
He asked for money to eat, but instead we walked him to a nearby restaurant and told him that we would pay for his food - no liquor. You ordered at the counter and they brought it to your table. He ordered about $35 worth of food and we suspected that maybe he would not take cancel all of part of his order after we had paid and left. So we told the counter man to give him $10 worth of food. The young man, rather than being thankful, was very upset. I felt like a jerk for even offering to help. We gave waited until he got his food, paid the guy and left.
DH works in downtown San Francisco and is constantly being accosted by beggars. He ignores them and keeps walking. One time after he had walk right passed a beggar, he realized that the fellow had asked him something with a French accent.
He walked back to him and asked what he wanted. The poor Frenchman was a visitor and couldn't figure out how to use a payphone on the street. He had the money, but was very confused. DH of course apologized to him and helped him with the phone.
DH explained to him how so many of his country men had helped us on the street, directions, etc.. Apparently he had asked numerous passersby and was surprised that not one person, except DH, had even acknowledged him.
The fellow was dressed in jeans, but was clean. Too bad he picked an area with so many beggars, in comparison, a lot more than we have seen on one block in Paris. They are also a lot more vocal and 'pushy' here.
Nina
Aug 5th, 2006, 07:19 AM
#46
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We were accosted by several women carrying babies at the taxi station outside gare du nord in Paris. The women (who were far too old to have given birth to those babies, presumably they were family members or "rental" children) knew just enough English to ask for "money for the baby."
As the line for taxis dissipated, they started chatting and laughing among themselves. waiting, I guess, for the next influx of travelers.
As the line for taxis dissipated, they started chatting and laughing among themselves. waiting, I guess, for the next influx of travelers.
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travdis
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Dec 28th, 2004 03:15 PM
