My heart strings were pulled and before exiting the elevator, I handed him some money as did the other woman in the elevator. He thanked us and said, "God bless you." Tears crowded my eyes.
Then a few weeks later, Handsome and I were waiting for the doctor follow-up when right by my shoulder I heard, "Papa died." My eyes widened. I looked and yes, the same man. My gaze went to Handsome and he acknowledged he'd heard to.
We quickly deduced something fishy was going on.
The man finished his spiel and moved on. We thought and thought about what had happened. I spoke with security and he said there are people who move from hospital to hospital, telling their stories. That they are very good actors.
My heart sunk. I felt incredibly naïve. I want to help those in need. What's more disappointing is this person took advantage of people at a hospital. That make me sad. The saying about "there's all kinds in the world" is true.
23 comments:
Wow! That makes me angry! How can people live with themselves, doing that? I haven't been around on here because I have been knee deep in helping with wrongful convictions and I am appalled at how many people can lie and put an innocent person in prison...even sent to death row in order to close a case, get revenge, get a trouble maker off the streets or are admitted liars who lie...
I am so sorry you got scammed! I hope the Karma bus finds this guy soon!
Hi, Cathy! Karma bus is pretty funny. I have to look at this as I gave with the best intentions. If I hadn't heard the second conversation, I would still be believing I helped someone. Still...hurting people in a hospital is very bad.
It saddens me to learn that scammers are preying on unsuspecting (and vulnerable) people in hospitals. What goes round comes around...This man will get his comeuppance.
Thanks for alerting us to this scam.
Hi, Joanne! It is sad. I asked my nephew if he had heard of something like this and he said no. The security guard said they chase these guys off and then rotate to different hospitals and eventually return.
Wow...what a mean person. I hate that people feel the need to prey on others. It's the few bad apples which make me jaded and not likely to help others. I just don't trust as easily as I used to.
I know, Melissa. I understand. I felt so naïve.
Wow, Vicki. I was hooked on the story, too, never suspecting what was coming. You know, sometimes we're going to get taken, but I gotta believe those folks are in the minority. Our job is to help when we can. But yes, very sad. I've shared. :)
That is one of the saddest stories I have ever read~you certainly did the right thing both times, you gave with a loving, giving heart. It is so sad because someone may really be in this situation and not get the help they truly deserve and also someone will miss a blessing helping them. Hugs to you and Handsome.
Hi, Marsha! The security guard said these people are very good at what they are doing. And obviously was as myself and the other lady gave him money. But then to say "God bless you"--how ironic looking back.
Hi, Dorothy! You are right in saying hopefully one day this man can straighten his life and realize his wrong. Thank you so much for posting.
Weren't you tempted to say something to him? I'm never quick enough to come up with the right retort at the right moment, but I would have wanted him to know I was on to him. Maybe it would have pricked his conscience at least a little, that is if he has one.
Hi, Judy! I was like what?!!! And his talk wasn't that long. I knew with him standing by my shoulder the second time and asking for a pencil, he was hoping I'd fall again. I was tempted to say something, but didn't want to create a scene. Yea, we can hope he gets a conscience one day.
That sucks, and yep, takes all kinds. We have highly organized groups of panhandlers in Vancouver, the kind who keep checklists, and signup sheets, and use just the right characters in just the right places, so I'm not overly surprised, although it saddens me to hear of people's emotions being played this way.
Hi, Kathryn! Oh my. I've been to Vancouver and didn't get panhandled, but I'm sure that has changed since my visit. Yes, quite bothersome that the people there are people needing medical help for cancer and a bad dude is taking advantage of their vulnerability. Hugs, vb
I just don't understand why there are scammers out there. I would think that it is innate to be a good person. I'll never understand. I'm sorry that this happened to you.
Thank you, Susan. We're okay, mostly flabbergasted this happens. So now we know.
Wow Vicki, that's awful! I can't believe people want to scam others at a hospital. Awful. Karma will smack him one day. Sorry this happened to you.
"there's all kinds in the world" -- my grandmother used to say that all the time...So sorry you had this experience.
Hi, Angela and Karilyn! I know, scamming at a hospital is just darn awful. We didn't feel badly for us as much for others and knowing this is going on and on and on.
I'm a firm believer God will bless you for your generous heart and these kinds of people will reap what they sow....
God bless you
PamT
Hi, Pam! And I'm probably not worthy of judging him, but I do know I didn't like what he did. Hugs, vb
This definitely is very sad, especially - as you said - considering the location.
I work from home and all day long am inundated with charity, hard-sell, scam, and just plain fishy phone calls. It's made me more cynical about believing hard-luck stories - which is sad, too, because some of those "all kinds in the world" people really do need assistance.
Hi, Barbara! I, too, am inundated with those phone calls. It's a crying shame as we want to help and then something like this happens.
I saw this same sort of thing in a Walmart parking lot. A fellow approached me and asked me for money to buy gas so he could get home. I didn't have any cash and told him I couldn't help. About a month later I saw this same fellow at a different Walmart approach someone with the same story. If he was truly out of gas and 20 miles from home AGAIN, then that's his fault for not planning better. I didn't say anything because well... I'm chicken. I didn't want to put myself into a situation that could turn ugly. Who knows what these grifters are capable of doing?
Sorry you had to experience this. Your reaction the first time was sincere and the right thing to do. Your reaction the second time was also the right thing to do. These scammers need to be stopped. It's just wrong to take advantage of someone's good will. If people get taken advantage of too many times, they stop helping others, and we don't need to get to that point.
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