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標題: Someone asking for money - Anyone heard or experienced this? [打印本頁]

作者: pkphilip 時間: 2008-12-7 01:24 標題: Someone asking for money - Anyone heard or experienced this?

The story went like this:

After I dropped my friend back home close to Joyce station at about 12am, as I was driving out, there was a pickup has the hazzard light going off and driving towards me. The guy in the truck waved his hand at me, tried to talk to me.

The guy was at his 40s-50s, looked clean, told me that he was from Chilliwack working in Vancouver. He claimed that he and his wife were robbed in front of 20 people in skytrain in the morning. He had no money, no card, no anything, and driving around to get help from people to get gas/food so they could be back to Chilliwack. He said he has money in bank account at home and give me his number and will pay me back, etc etc...

I looked at the truck, it was definitely a work type pickup with bars to hook up some tools, a woman at about the same age was in the truck. I thought, only street bumps would come up a story like that. However, the guy seemed to be very sincere and his wife had the worry look... plus the truck looks legit to me (bumps wouldn't be stupid enough to steal a car to joy ride ba...) so I told him I only have $20.

As soon as the guy started to walk out of the truck, I locked the door. As I gave him $15 through my window, he had one hand reach into my window with his old Nokia 8390 phone, asked me for my number. At the same time I immediately had one hand on the window switch, one foot on the brake, and one foot on the gas. I figured if any thing happen, I will just close the window and take off right away. I really didn't care if I have to chop his hand off from the window and/or dragged him along should I need to run.

I refused to give him my number, and at the end, I just gave him my work number.. once he was facing back to the truck, I took off.

I really don't expect to hear from this guy anyways, if I do, I guess it's my luck... I just consider it a charity donation or helping someone really in need.... the whole thing happened at 12am... just a bit odd.

Anyone heard of similar things? or just that I am totally out of date that street bumps these days now have cars to ask for money?

Philip

[ 本帖最後由 pkphilip 於 2008-12-7 02:26 編輯 ]

作者: Hyde 時間: 2008-12-7 01:29

1) is bum, not bump
2) he is not gonna pay you back.

作者: kaimui22 時間: 2008-12-7 02:04

ha..i was reading the whole thing confused by the word "bumps"

1) Bums, not bumps

2) Actually most bums are quite rich....some might even have more $$ in their accounts than us. There was a show done of the topic of bums asking for money and most of them have a house AND a car..what they don't have is a full-time job. Many bums actually earn up to $25/hour asking for money on the road...girls might get more. I think the show that did the topic was W5 or something of that sort.

3) He won't pay you back. You said he got robbed in the MORNING, right? So why is he still at the skytrain station at MIDNIGHT?? He could have gone to the police or elsewhere to get money and help...there's no reason for him and his wife to stay at the station for an entire day asking for money....unless that skytrain station has people who pay him well..haha..like you. If he got ONE person every hour to give him $15 or $20, he would have made at least $150 or more in one day.

作者: Hyde 時間: 2008-12-7 02:31

we missed one important part....

he have his cell phone and couldn't ask for help.... i would've said straight to his face to tell him to call for help and then laugh how stupid he is.

but then, ppl still fall for these stupid stories

作者: b06 時間: 2008-12-7 09:02

It's very nice of u to act what u did, despite the skepticals...
Hope u really helped someone.

作者: somewhereintime 時間: 2008-12-7 09:28 標題: 回復 5# 的帖子

You have a heart of gold, Philip. There are hundreds of street bums who would dream
up with the most bizarre stories. Once a young man with a university textbook came to me
and said his wallet was stolen in the bus and he need money to go to school, he borrowed
$50 and left his book as a token, of course he never return for his book. It was before cell phone age.

作者: tiffiant 時間: 2008-12-7 10:40

its hard to say nowadays
so many bums here just don't work and keep asking for money

作者: low_B 時間: 2008-12-7 12:33

I saw some bums had a car

作者: Catpiano 時間: 2008-12-7 14:12

Everywhere wor .. esp downtown .. china town .. lots of people ask for money in Canada .. mostly native .. sometimes, just ask for $1 or $5 ..

Do the math .. if everyone gives him $5 .. 50 people a day .. $250 a day .. = $400 before tax .. 25 working day .. $10K a month ga la.. not bad ..

Time for me to switch job ...

Sigh .. we spoil them la..

作者: somewhereintime 時間: 2008-12-7 15:17

A classic case happens in Chinatown often:
A causcasian man around 20 Y.O. kneels down and cries begging for money,
then, around 4:00 pm, he would get up and clears up his act, puts on his
backpack and goes home. To him, it is like daily routine, acting.

作者: librazhy 時間: 2008-12-7 15:34

There are thousands of street bums nowadays, even in the states.

do not give em money

作者: ACooperFan 時間: 2008-12-7 16:42

all i can say is that Philip is kind-hearted...

作者: pkphilip 時間: 2008-12-7 16:56

The reason why I paid up was that it was late, and god knows what will happen. If paying a small amount of $$ can get rid of trouble, I would do it.

Heck... the book value on my stock/mutua funds lose are more than $15 everyday anyways.

Philip

作者: cinderelly 時間: 2008-12-8 01:23

i usually try my best to walk/run away asap when people like that approach me, especially when i'm alone

wasn't it on the news awhile ago that some crook asked an elderly lady for money, she gave him a few dollars but it wasn't enough for him so he beat her up violently..?!

most crooks on the streets are somewhat mentally-ill... who knows what'll happen =\

作者: utopia 時間: 2008-12-8 08:50

原帖由 pkphilip 於 2008-12-7 02:24 發表
The story went like this:

After I dropped my friend back home close to Joyce station at about 12am, as I was driving out, there was a pickup has the hazzard light going off and driving towards me. Th ...

I met the same guy at Esso Station by Rupert.
Yup, pick up truck and he tried to ask me to give him a quater or borrow my cel phone to him. And YES, he is from Chilliwack as well; he said that he has to call home and let them know they got robbed ..

So I suggest him to call 911 and i do not have my cel phone and wallet with me since i'm in neighbourhood (I lied)... and I asked him to go into the gas station and ask the staff to help him. And he insisted they will not borrow the phone to outsider and will not help him..

So I ended up told him to find another guy at the gas station to help him as I cannot do anything at all..

作者: utopia 時間: 2008-12-8 08:56

Oh, and he has a worry wife sat stood by his pick up truck too.
He pointed to his wife, and told me see that's my wife. She is worry about our child at home since they are expecting us to be home by now but we do not have a cel phone.

Sorry, I think you just fell into a trap.
I hate to say that but these days, I would not help any stranger on the street and I would rather call 911 for them then give them $.

After hearing your story, I'm glad I made the right decision at the gas station.

作者: MyOMy 時間: 2008-12-8 10:55

Yes, PK you are right, giving a small amount of money to avoid trouble at that hours. You don't need to find out his story is straight or not. Perhaps, it is 90% fault.  Once you decided to give him money, you might as well believe the story. It will at least make you feel good.

Over the years, I have many of this kind of experience.  Once in RONA parking, a old Cantonese guy told me he lost his wallet and need 2 dollars to take a bus home, I gave. He then asked for more. Instantly he broke his story and took away my "feel good".

Years ago in Tropicana Casino, Vegas, a well dressed Taiwanese guy told me he lost all his money and need 20 bucks to get back to the hotel (can't rememeber which) in the other side of the town.  I knew 99%  he is a crook. But he showed me something: If the story is straight, it show me what gambling can get you.  If the story is not straight, it is so pathetic to ask for money like a begger in a place where you are supposed to make milliions.  It also show me what gambling can get you. I gave him the money. I felt good.

作者: utopia 時間: 2008-12-8 11:39

Of course I'm not trying to make PK to feel bad.
I just I used to be generous and give away money to those who looks helpless on the street. BUT, I figure later, the same guy asked people for money around the corner...

so now, I realize that each time I give $$ to these people, I'm just encouraging them to trick people who has a good heart to help...

By doing that, I ain't different from people who encourage bums to wash our car windown at signal light.

作者: utopia 時間: 2008-12-8 11:48

Again la, I know people always say Cops in Canada is not reliable but in situation like these, I wouldn't risk my safety to help these people.

Like what MyOMy said, these crooks might beat u up just because you dun give enough.

If these people really need help, they can always dial 911 and ask cops to drive them home at night.

Not sure does that apply in vancouver but I remember my cousin used to live in Winnipeg and was alone on the street (Girl)..without a ride.  So she called the police and they drove her home.

And for the gamble part (I might mis-read since I'm at work; I cannot read the entire post clearly), if he lose all the money at Casino and dun $$$ to go home.  He DESERVED it and it's about time for him to learn a lesson.  Helping them, just encourage them to gamble more ... and their poor family just have to suffer with him/her....

作者: shutterbug 時間: 2008-12-8 11:58

Nice try...I'll just yell out my car window to tell the guy to call 911 if I were you and that will only take 3 seconds, then step on the gas and go...

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