I reported a guy at gas station who was hustling for gas....

[FarPoint]

He had his beat up car ,with broken out window and plastic cover in back passenger side, local license tags....parked away from view of attendant in a filling slot...He approached me asking for money/ gas say 1-2 gallons...spewed out he just bought the car and ran out of gas...Well...he lied saying he just bought the car, "no temporary tags" ... It was a hustle verses a need... in my opinion..

So, I reported him...

I have been approached at various times wherein folks did this...the first time I did use my credit card and filled &10 of gas...that was a few months ago at a different station...

Then two other times and I got that uneasy feeling...didn't donate...3rd time I reported the fella...different guy mind you... And, reported this fella yesterday...

I always want to help, cause not hardship but the scam gig seems to be popular...

Was I wrong to report him to management? Just wanted him to stop.

[Joinfortmill]

1. No right or wrong here. You used your instincts, that's what they're for. Peace.

[FarPoint]

5. Most all my gas fill ups are at Costco but it is south of town...

Nothing like this happens at Costco...they have walking around attendants at all times who assist customers too...

I just felt creeped out....needed to get gas to hold me over until I drove down to Costco....I drive my car for my home IV infusion job...so, I travel a lot, have a Hybrid...

[OLDMDDEM]

2. You did the right thing.

[jimfields33]

3. I'm sure he just went to the next gas station.

I’ve given money to the “need gas” people. I never see the car, but it’s easier to give two bucks than try to figure out if he’s lying or not. I’m sure 9 out of ten times they are lying. But I feel good for the tenth getting legit help.

I don’t think there are right or wrong answers here. You did what you thought was right and that’s what matters.

[Think. Again.]

4. I always take each situation one at a time...

...sometimes I just sense it's a hustle, apologize and walk away, and sometimes I empty my wallet for them.

[stopdiggin]

8. +1. and I deplore the day I become so calloused

that my heart is always set against ....

[stopdiggin]

6. I don't know if there an identifiable difference between a 'hustle'

and an ordinary panhandle on the street. Is somebody that is running a GoFundMe substantively different that someone that is begging spare change on the sidewalk? In what way? And - unless someone is being threatening, abusive, or otherwise hampering or impeding other citizens or businesses .... I'm wondering if it's any of my business .. ?

(oh - and by the way - a private sale doesn't involve 'tags' - you just have a given period of time to attend to registration, etc.)

[FarPoint]

17. I think in Ohio...one needs temporary tags with transfer/purchase...

It has been my experience in the past here...

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Should have called clergy and let them handle it

they were made for each other

[FarPoint]

13. Hahahaha

I would have to do a Google search for a clergy...not my go to call list...

[bucolic_frolic]

19. The guy would never beg for gas money again /nt

[FarPoint]

20. I see your wisdom there...

[bucolic_frolic]

22. Sorry, I couldn't resist. But I didn't mean to make light of your post.

You did the appropriate thing.

[MichMan]

9. Call the police

They can make sure the car is properly registered, and make sure he has both insurance and a driver's license. Might even search the car for illegal weapons or drugs and check for any open warrants while they are at it.

[FarPoint]

11. I most certainly will do this next time...

Thank you for the direction...

[Lochloosa]

23. I would never call police for something so petty.

First, you are wasting resources and second, people get killed having to deal with them.

If he's not driving, they can't ID the person or legally search his car. Things can get out of hand quickly over a few bucks.

[MichMan]

25. Hope you never have a loved one hit by someone driving unlicensed and uninsured

I wouldn't be surprised if someone who shakes down other people for gas money isn't too concerned about driving illegally.

How does the OP know the gas station didn't call them?

FYI, a friend was killed by an unlicensed uninsured driver doing a burnout in a parking lot and losing control of her truck. Probably drunk too, but fled the scene and turned herself in the next day. As I recall, she only got 4 years probation for it.

[JoseBalow]

27. You spelled "fuck" wrong

[hunter]

28. I always think deeply before I call the police about anything. Usually I decide not to call them.

Whenever I do call them I explain the situation in great detail so there are no misunderstandings. I've seen the police shoot people I myself wouldn't have shot.

Where I live the police probably wouldn't show up for a call like this anyways. They'd probably tell me to file a report on their web site and they'd be a little surly and annoyed about me calling them too. More paperwork.

I actually prefer living in places where the police have better things to do then harassing mostly harmless gasoline station panhandlers or groping teenage WalMart shoplifters.

[MichMan]

29. I prefer living in places where scammers aren't shaking down customers at gas stations

Many of whom are fearful or feel sorry for them and give them money they themselves could use for a better purpose.

There is no lack of job openings these days; scammers need to get a job like most normal honest people do.

[hunter]

31. I grew up in one of the top ten "safest" cities in the U.S.A.

And it truly was, for straight white affluent people.

I quit high school at sixteen and fled, eventually repudiating whatever automatic status I might have been granted by that orderly community in the later 'seventies.

I wouldn't move back to a place like that for a million dollars cash and a six figure income. And I haven't.

This world is a very messy place. If you are affluent you can pay people to isolate you from the mess. Or you can dive right in and use whatever talent you got to make it a better.

[FarPoint]

33. I didn't call police..

Went into station...a Meijers station..informed the the Manager...

[Ptah]

10. Yes, you were wrong to report him to anyone.

[FarPoint]

12. What is your rationale?

Curious as to why you see it that way...

[FarPoint]

15. That is an awful thing to say....

I disagree with that extent of your rationale, sound like a republican; when one feels creeped out by scammers.

[Ptah]

16. I think it was an awful thing to report him to anyone.

You assumed "he lied saying he just bought the car".
You could have just said no.

[FarPoint]

18. I did say no....

Observed him getting cash from another then approached another person and got cash...no gas.

[SheltieLover]

21. You did the right thing, IMO.

I've had the same thing happen to me repeatedly by different people & I report them.

But for your own safety, please don't let the other person see you report them, whether to the business or the police. Just a personal precaution I take.

[FarPoint]

24. I indeed took the said precautions....

observed a bit then went into store...not looking in his direction....bought a Pure Leaf tea...shopped...no clue...

In Dayton, west end this was North end near airport.... but in the West Dayton area...multiple gas station shootings off Gettysburg Ave / James H McGee Ave area this year...so yea...we get nervous...it's on our minds now...

[bedazzled]

26. If someone asks me for money and i have some, i will give

It's not for me to judge

I have seen people light up with gratitude for a few bucks

The only time I won't is if they are smoking...

[HeartsCanHope]

30. I would say no, if you feel uneasy there's something off about the situation.

I remember once outside a Walgreens a guy on foot asked me for money for gas. Said he left his car down the road and had to take someone to a doctor's appointment or something similar to that. Even though I felt he was lying, I handed him some money because my son was with me and I wanted him to learn to help others. We got in the car and watched him run across the parking lot and then across the street to the strip mall on that side. Said to my son, "Oh, maybe he's going to hike to the gas station down the street just beyond the little strip mall." Instead I watched as he went inside the little grocery on the corner in the strip mall, then come out with what appeared to be liquor in a paper bag and down some right in the parking lot! After that I'm more careful who I give money to. I'm just grateful that he walked off on foot, and DIDN'T get in a car and hurt someone!

[JoseBalow]

32. "Just wanted him to stop."

[retread]

34. I an curious what you reported? A broke man needing a couple of gallons of gas?