"I know I'm a big, scary, Black man..."

[Lobodeb]

... he probably just didn't know how to initiate conversation...

A simple "excuse me" would have worked just fine. He was nicely dressed and had a pretty fancy cell phone that he was waving around. There wasn't much he needed from me that I could give him based on his appearance.

I normally don't think twice about helping someone if they're in need.

[Vela]

Well it's your perogative to feel insulted if you wish, but you are making all sorts of assumptions about him, yet being angry you think he made an assumption about you. He obviously did need help, or he probably wouldn't have asked.

[Lobodeb]

He obviously did need help, or he probably wouldn't have asked.

But, there are scammers out there trying to make a quick buck who ruin it for people who really need help and sadly, I'll never know.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

But, there are scammers out there trying to make a quick buck who ruin it for people who really need help and sadly, I'll never know.

He could just have easily waited for a man to stop at that light and ask him for help. If he didn't have any money for gas, why was he driving a car that would need some? Something's not quiet right here.

[Laura's Babies]

I make it a habit not to help beggers like that. The few times I have, I watched them afterwards and they did not use the money in the way they asked for.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I've met him.....twice. The first time I gave him money and realized immediately I had been taken. The second time...when he was in the very same spot with the very same story.... I called the police. I was not the first to call about him.

When I gave him a five dollar bill he told me it was not enough....he stood on the off ramp from the Edens....

I was so angry that I allowed myself to be taken....

[JenBKR]

I've met him.....twice. The first time I gave him money and realized immediately I had been taken. The second time...when he was in the very same spot with the very same story.... I called the police. I was not the first to call about him.

When I gave him a five dollar bill he told me it was not enough....he stood on the off ramp from the Edens....

I was so angry that I allowed myself to be taken....

You mean you know the exact same guy? Did he say the same thing to you?

[lizbud]

When I gave him a five dollar bill he told me it was not enough....he stood on the off ramp from the Edens....

I was so angry that I allowed myself to be taken....

I can't believe the gall. $5.00 was NOT ENOUGH??? Geeeze.

[joycenalex]

I've met him.....twice. ....

the same type of scam has been run here in columbus at me, too. don't open a door/window, stay safe. his feelings will recover, there are other people out there to scam.

[Luvin Labs]

But, there are scammers out there trying to make a quick buck who ruin it for people who really need help and sadly, I'll never know.

This is exactly why I won't help anyone unless I know them. I know that is bad when someone is in true need of help (if anything I'd call AAA for them or something, but no money leaves my pocket). Who is to say that the guy was lying and only wanted a few bucks for drugs or alcohol or sex?

Who is to say that he IS a bad man (no matter what color he is) and would have tried something once he did get 'help'?

A simple "excuse me" would have worked just fine. He was nicely dressed and had a pretty fancy cell phone that he was waving around. There wasn't much he needed from me that I could give him based on his appearance.

Yeah, scammer. He could have called people on his cell phone in order to get help instead of coming up to someone in a car at a light. He gets your money, you realize you have been had, light goes green, horns honk, you are obligated to move, if you go around to find him he's gone like THAT.

If anything, I'd have gone and bought a gallon or two of gas and come back to see where he was 'stranded'.

Good job.

[lizbud]

You've got to admit he did get your attention, didn't he? Sounds
like that's what he wanted to do so he could tell you his story. I wouldn't
have engaged in any conversation with him or opened my wallet for anyone.
Black, purple, or green,makes no difference.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

It's just not safe to open your window or unlock your door for someone you don't know. How many women have gone missing trying to help someone by doing that? He had a cell phone. He could have called a buddy or the auto club or something or even a policeman would have helped him.
You can't tell about a person by the way he dresses.

Nope! No way, no how open those doors.