Panhandling Techniques

[rbattelle]

In the last few years it seems like there are many panhandlers who use the "I ran out of gas and have no money, and I live XX miles away, can you spare some money so I can get home?" I even had one guy who was carrying an old empty gas can with him, for added "effect".

But this evening I saw a very interesting twist on this classic technique.

I'm eating dinner with some family at a restaurant on an outdoor patio. A late model Hyundai pulls up (Accent, I think), clean inside and out.

From the Hyundai jumps an adult male, probably between 25 and 35, and a young girl, probably between 8 and 12.

Female driver of the Hyundai remains in the vehicle, with the engine turned off. Male and the girl come over holding hands (as father/daughter). All of them are dressed cleanly, and the male has almost all gold teeth.

Male interrupts our dinner and says, "I'm from Cleveland and I just drove down here so my daughter can see her grandmother in Cincinnati who just had a stroke and we need some gas money, can you spare some for us?"

When met with refusal, his response was to point out "... you can see we're well dressed, we're not bums just looking for money. "

He and the young girl then proceeded to try a car that had just pulled into the lot, and then around the building to some other tables and area restaurants.

Once they got beyond the Hyundai they arrived in, the female driver started the car and followed them.

Seems like a great deal of effort for panhandling. Which makes me wonder just how lucrative it is. I find it extremely unlikely the story was true - this was almost certainly a scam.

Maybe I should've suggested he pawn his gold teeth? Anyway, I'm curious what techniques other people have heard.

-Ryan

 

[kenny61]

I had a similar incident at a gas station as I was filling up my motorcycle. A college student who did not have enough gas to make it home... . Had his first line included the statement I will show you my drivers license and pay you back or i can give you xxxx as collateral etc etc etc I probably would have pumped 10 or 20 bucks into his car and told him not to worry. Instead he got the I guess you didnt take the class on how to figure out MPG yet... .

 

[Missouri Mule]

I get panhandlers all the time at my business. Lately a young lady comes around every two to three weeks says she doesn't hav enough gas( gas pumps 20 yards from my business) to get to the next town (7 miles away). She keeps asking untilshe get enough to fill the tank (I'dont give her any).



Many years ago a young man in a BMW stopped asking for money for gas. There were three of us standing there listening to his song and dance we all declined to help him out. He then stated he give us his credit card if we gave him money for gas. One of the man standing there asked him why he didn't use the credit card to fill the tank. The young man got in his BMW and left.



I feel money is to hard to earn to give it away for someone else to use on worthless items.

 

[The patriot]

Last time I was in a "panhandle zone" I was approached for money (they never want food) "for the train ride home". I gave him $5. 00 and asked if he wanted a coffee and/or donut (I was in dunkin donuts)he was gone in a flash.

There is a "bum village" the next town up but they never wander this far south thankfully.

 

[Dl5treez]

I've seen some good "why lie I just need beer" signs but this one is pretty funny:

 

[AMink]

I"ve seen the guy with the dog trick in several places. "Need food for me and my dog, God Bless". Or, "Hungry, anything helps". If you give them food they get all upset because they really want cash.



And, meaning no disrespect to real Vietnam Vets, I think there are more "Vietnam Vets" on offramps around the country than there were in Vietnam. I am all for helping the vets, but there are so many scammers that I don't give directly to them. I give to VFW etc. and let them find the real vets.

 

[Missouri Mule]

In the Orlando area they have at least one Van and maybe more that drop off Panhandlers on busy corners/streets with signs that say they will work for food but hearing stories from customers/friends they won't work food matter of fact they won't work they just want money.

 

[rbattelle]

I've seen some good "why lie I just need beer" signs but this one is pretty funny:

I think it was Chris Rock who said, "If a homeless person has a funny sign, he hasn't been homeless that long. A real homeless person is too hungry to be funny. "



-Ryan

 

[Dl5treez]

I think it was Chris Rock who said, "If a homeless person has a funny sign, he hasn't been homeless that long. A real homeless person is too hungry to be funny. "

-Ryan

A lot of them are homeless by choice. They get their SSI checks at the beginning of the month and get high & eat @ Jack In The Box for 15 days, then spend the rest of the month panhandling and just kinda hangin' out.

A Seattle radio station DJ spent a a weekend on the street with the (in)famous Seattle homeless population and taped it with a camcorder... . it is amazing how some people can just allow themselves to live like that by choice. There are some who are legitimately down on their luck but most are just lazy drug addicts