I set myself up...

[gotojuston]

January isn't supposed to be this nice in Indiana, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to do some work outside that required the tractor. While filling up the gas can I was approached by a gentleman with a sob story. He was traveling to Purdue vet school and ran into a snag along the way. Long story short, he needed money for gas.

I like helping people out, so I handed him what I had in my pocket. $15 isn't going to break the budget and I figured, what if it was true. My local gas station is < 1mi from home so I didn't even consider grabbing my normal OC gun. Heck, I could see my house while filling up.

Fast forward, he was a grifter and I should have known better. What would have happened if I followed SOP and had my obnoxiously visible holster at the time? Would I still have my $15?

I keep going back and forth on this. If it's true and he was in a bad spot, I did right by [insert your God of choice]. If he was pulling the easiest scam in the book, I am an idiot and learned a valuable lesson about letting my guard down. I highly doubt the gas station scammers would try a OC advocate. Thoughts?

 

[Double T]

Tell him to do your work and you'll pay him. Either way, you really aren't out 15 bucks that way.

 

[HandK]

Your heart was right in the giving! and that is all that matters! If he was scamming then the burden is on his head! not yours! Let it go! You did what you thought was the right thing to do in the moment!

 

[92ThoStro]

Oh really? I happen to be heading that way myself, would you like a ride?

 

[HavokCycle]

losing 15 to a scammer is better than a bad situation.
count yourself lucky, inform the people of the person and be more aware and thoughtful going forward.

you left out some important parts tho. what led you to the assurance he was scamming?

 

[LANShark42]

Your heart was right in the giving! and that is all that matters! If he was scamming then the burden is on his head! not yours! Let it go! You did what you thought was the right thing to do in the moment!

Well said. (Sorry I'm out of rep or you'd have some...)

 

[pwoller]

I live in Indy and stopped that **** along time ago. I gave money to a grandmother with a baby in the car that was out of gas on the highway, then watched her jump into a car with a dude and drive off. That was it, now I tell them to f off, If they have a problem with it then they can look down the barrel of my XD.

 

[gotojuston]

losing 15 to a scammer is better than a bad situation.
count yourself lucky, inform the people of the person and be more aware and thoughtful going forward.

you left out some important parts tho. what led you to the assurance he was scamming?

That's what I'm wrestling with - I can't know for sure but I've heard about this scam before. I just hope he got to where he was going and needed the money. If that was the case I also hope he is well and happy. If he was scamming the station, I hope his moral light bulb goes on one day and he helps someone else out (who hopefully isn't scamming him).

I left him with the adage "pay it forward".

 

[gotojuston]

Your heart was right in the giving! and that is all that matters! If he was scamming then the burden is on his head! not yours! Let it go! You did what you thought was the right thing to do in the moment!

You know, this ^ is it. Either way I wanted to help a guy out. I hope whatever situation he was in, he's happier because of the (small) gesture.

 

[KW730]

You know, this ^ is it. Either way I wanted to help a guy out. I hope whatever situation he was in, he's happier because of the (small) gesture.

While I used to agree, I have noticed with time (and I'm pretty young I would assume amongst this crowd, 22) that most people who do these types of things are heavily addicted to drugs or alcohol and are in this situation due to their own choices. While I would like to have faith in humanity, I can't justify handing out my hard earned cash to someone who will most likely use it to continue their plague on society.

I applaud the OP for his kind gesture, but I would never do the same. This is the world we live in.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

I remember several years ago going to Florida on spring break. Every time we stopped we were approached by some poor unfortunate who was down and out. My breaking point was the crackhead in valdosta Georgia who took my two or three bucks, whatever it was, and RAN across the street to get his next fix. As I watched him go, I remarked to wifey that it sure was funny that he was travelling in the opposite direction of the bus he was supposed to be catching.

 

[brian.derby]

The last time I helped an unfortunate with gas, I actually made them pull up to the pump, prepaid their gas for them, and made her pump it. then I promptly told the BF that he was an idiot for not making sure his GF was taken care of and made to feel secure. See, she was asking for money at a truck stop, and I can only tell you about a few of the less than desirable drivers out there... I too like to help, but will only do so to the extent that I deem neccessary, you need gas? get out the gas can or pull up to the pump, food? there is a food place close, let's go... money for bills at the house? Well, I have a few things that need to be done, or let's see your bills.....

 

[buford t justice]

The one that killed my charitable spirit was about 2 years ago.

As I am walking from my truck into walmart a man asks me if I could spare a few bucks because he is on his way from Denver to his home town which is about 15 MI north of where we are standing and he has forgotten his walet and is out of gas.

I handed him 10 bucks , which should be enough for a round trip to where he said he was going.

As I walk into walmart I turn because I have this sinking suspicion that I have been scammed and see him ask another guy for money.

I walk in to the sevice desk and ask to see the manager ,when he came out I tell him he has a con in the parking lot and he calls a couple of other empolyees and heads out to see about it ,I point the guy out and he he and his guys go out and run him off.

That was the last time that I gave anyone money that I didn,t know

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

Actually - I believe in using your wits - your spidey senses are not often wrong. the 15$ will come and go - so THAT part is not worth sweating. As others have said - I'd let that go. Give to whomever you will, and don't to whomever you will.

Probably one of the more important lessons to come out of this is that you don't appear to have been armed while working around the house. Just my two centavos... but THAT might have been the larger issue by far. I encourage everyone to carry EVERYWHERE that they legally can. Why? You never know when someone will come to the door.

Without wanting this to turn into the usual (useless) OC/CC debate.... If a gun is so "obnoxiously large" that you can't have it with you while working on the car, or getting leaves out of the gutter , or gassing up the tractor.... then you might want to consider investing in a pocket gun for those times when you "can't" carry the larger one. Then you can give to whomever you want to and have complete confidence that you can deal with a problem should it arise.

 

[flhultra]

(If a gun is so "obnoxiously large" that you can't have it with you while
working on the car, or getting leaves out of the gutter , or gassing up the
tractor.... )

Is that possible

 

[emsdial911]

Your heart was right in the giving! and that is all that matters! If he was scamming then the burden is on his head! not yours! Let it go! You did what you thought was the right thing to do in the moment!

Agreed, If we let all the scam artist hardened our hearts then those who are in real need would never get our help. It's people like you who carry on the hope of the world.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

I don't usually give cash but I will always go out of my way to help if I can. It is the Christian thing to do IMO. Whatever you have done to the least of these you have also done for Christ. That tells me that even if they have ill intentions if YOUR heart is in the right place that is all that matters.

BTW I am OC every time.

 

[dailylc]

I was in downtown Indy last Thursday with one of my employees and was approached buy someone asking for money. Said he needed it for taxi to get across town. I completely ignored him and just kept walking. I figure, if he made it to downtown, he should have been prepared enough to get back to where he came from.

 

[Brian S.]

I have better things to do with my money than give it away to strangers who have failed to take care of themselves. I use it to take care of myself and my family.

I fail to see the virtue in helping out random strangers. If you really insist on giving your money away, why don't you give it to those who mean something to you? Friends, family, neighbors etc.. This way you won't have to worry about whether it's a scam or whether this person is broke because they injected all their money into their veins, donated it to a casino etc.. Nothing wrong with helping out, but you don't have to be foolish and just give money to whomever has a sob story.

 

[gotojuston]

Actually - I believe in using your wits - your spidey senses are not often wrong. the 15$ will come and go - so THAT part is not worth sweating. As others have said - I'd let that go. Give to whomever you will, and don't to whomever you will.

Probably one of the more important lessons to come out of this is that you don't appear to have been armed while working around the house. Just my two centavos... but THAT might have been the larger issue by far. I encourage everyone to carry EVERYWHERE that they legally can. Why? You never know when someone will come to the door.

Without wanting this to turn into the usual (useless) OC/CC debate.... If a gun is so "obnoxiously large" that you can't have it with you while working on the car, or getting leaves out of the gutter , or gassing up the tractor.... then you might want to consider investing in a pocket gun for those times when you "can't" carry the larger one. Then you can give to whomever you want to and have complete confidence that you can deal with a problem should it arise.

Usual OC is a 4in 2.5 chambered taurus judge - not a S&W 500 or anything - but big enough to notice. I doubt it stays home in the future!

Thanks everyone for the kind words and experiences.