Dealing with scammers/panhandlers

Factual Questions
1

For years, I have summarily refused to give money to panhandlers. I instead make an offer to buy them a meal (I also keep unopened, non-perishable food items in my car for people who approach me at traffic lights).

I do this to reconcile the fact that many panhandlers have drug and alcohol problems (and a few are con-artists) with my morality concerning people who are truly needy.

Of late, an increasing percentage of panhandlers I encounter don’t claim to be homeless. Rather, they claim to be experiencing a short-duration crisis (out of gas, had their wallet stolen, etc).

And many such claims have proven false:

  • A guy approached me in a parking lot asking for gas money. Three hours later, I saw him drinking in a bar nearby.

  • A guy knocked on my door at 12:30 at night, babbling a story about needing $37 for his child’s prescription. He claimed to be the ex-husband of someone who lived down the street. It took several weeks, but I finally verified this was a lie. (What balls!)

These incidents both occurred within the last month or so. And no, I did not give anything to either of the above individuals.

I realize this could easily turn into a Great Debate; my Question is:

Does anyone have more effective ways to determine, in real-time, whether such requests are false? Something similar to my ‘no-money/yes-food’ policy?

2

Offer to go with them and pay for whatever it was they needed directly. If they refuse, chances are it’s a false request.

3

It can be difficult. Some cities have agencies you can refer people too.
A few years ago a guy told me he needed $0.65 to take Bart to a new job in San Francisco, where his new boss would front him enough money to get by untill payday. I thought “yeah, right” but gave it to him anyway.
Weeks later this ‘stranger’ (I didn’t remember him) came up to me and paid me back and thanked me for the loan. Offered me lunch, which I accepted.
Kinda made me feel good. :slight_smile:
You just gotta do what feels right, I guess. I don’t know that I’d take Q.E.D.'s advice, though. :eek:
Peace,
mangeorge

4

Yes…I ask them what the fuck their problem has to do with me. If they don’t provide a suitable response, I tell them to hit the bricks.

DOH!

5

It helps if you speak a foreign language other than english. I usually tell them to get bent in german and keep walking. They just give me a blank stare and head off to hit some other mark. Works every time. I go by the rule that there are NO honest panhandlers so why would I care about their story.

6

“No, sorry.”

This response has proven simple yet effective in my experience, while allowing them the dignity of a human response.

They usually reply with, “OK, have a good day.”

I say, “Thanks, you too, and good luck.”