Begging in Poland (new scam)

A few weeks ago I was stopped in the street by a very polite and respectable young woman. I thought she might be a student and I listened to her problem.

She told me that she had had her wallet/purse stolen and she needed money to get the train home. As it happened I had no change and couldn't help her out.

Today, at the station my wife and I were given the same story by some young guy. He was holding and displaying how little money he had and gave the same story as the girl. My wife recorgnized him and said ''You must suffer a lot from bad luck because you asked me the same question last week''. The young man then wandered off.

So, what I'm saying is that there is a new scam going on in Poland whereby respectable looking, believable types are asking for money.

This is no ordinary scam. These people are using their good looks, respectability and a believable story.

Be careful and don't get caught out.

You are lucky that they are clean and just wondered off. Some years ago, when I was in Poland there were a lot of Romanian Gypsies who would beg for money. They tried it on me in the main Railway Station in Warsaw. They would surround you and demand money and then, with their dirty hands, they would rub them up and down on your coat in the hope that it will be cheaper and less embarrassing to pay them off on the spot rather than hold out against them. I held out against them with a dirty coat to show for it!

Haven't you seen that before ? It's not a new thing.

In the past it was just people begging. Now it is a particular group of people using a slightly different method. It seems to be working for them because I saw plenty people handing over cash. Normally people tell these folks to fcuk off.

I think that in a student city like Wroclaw, if a student type has a problem it's more believable. And therefore some people are more likely to hand over cash.

It is a fact of life that people are more likely to hand over cash to the well dressed. Maybe they feel that the money is going to be better spent then giving it to an alcoholic who is going to just spend it on drink.

This is my point.

not a new scam but maybe a new one in poland.. all the bums use that one in the states. baby's milk is another.

Not to mention the guys with the gas cans and the sob story.

i have heard all kinds.. i just make my personal policy not to hand out anything.. i have to work for my money.. they need to too. i even quit giving out cigarettes. they only get a cold shoulder from me.