Saturday, April 10, 2010

Amateur con-artist

Was on my way to Golden Mile's steamboat with Cousin Bud and Ying, and this Malay woman with nice makeup, pushing a baby pram approached us:

"Hi, can you help me please? My ________ [I can't hear what she said] has asthma, and I'm trying to take a cab home to Yishun from here, but I've lost my wallet, and I only have $3 with me. I tried to call home, but nobody picked up. Can you lend me $10 to $15, maybe each one of you lend me like $5? Then you give me your bank account, I'll transfer it back into your account later on"

I got stunned for a moment cos I know she's lying - if you're in a rush to get home, you won't look so calm and prim and proper, you'll probably be very gan cheong and sweating like a pig. Was thinking of an excuse to tell her when Cousin Bud told me, "跟她讲没有啦!", which I think is alright, so I told her, "Sorry, don't have," then we started crossing the traffic lights.

The woman then shouted, "If don't want to give then at least say what! Don't just walk away like that!", so I shouted back, "I already said don't have what, what you expect?!".

And guess what? That asshole scolded me bitch!!!! Damn pissed off, so I shouted back, "Who's the bitch here?!" She started walking away but her pram shook quite hard cos it went by a bump or something, which makes me wonder, is there a real baby/kid in the pram? Then I saw her looked back at me, spit on the floor, and looked back at me again.

CRAZY!!!!

She didn't approach anyone when she continued to walk down the street...

Anyway after I had time to sit down and think about it, her excuse & actions are full of loopholes other than the ones that I've mentioned:
  1. If someone has asthma and is at home, even if you take a helicopter home, the person would've died before you arrive
  2. In such situation, I would've first try to take a cab home, ask the cabbie to wait for me while I go upstairs to take $ (Leave your bag or something in the cab as a "deposit")
  3. If all fails, I would ask for the nearest police post (and the nearest police post was only less than 1km walking distance away!!! http://gothere.sg/maps#q:from%20keypoint%20to%201.30402772553%2C103.863529874)
  4. Her story is too well-rehearsed - she didn't stutter at all, and also her excuses seems to explain every question that a person might ask her. I mean if you're gan cheong, you'll just say, "My XXX has asthma and I'm trying to get home, but I've lost my wallet, can you lend me $15?"
  5. Her story is too cliche.. Can't she think of more creative excuses, like a stray dog ate her wallet or something? I might just give her some $ then for her creativeness
  6. She didn't approach other people who passed by her - if you're so desperate, won't you try asking ANYONE on the streets? Obviously she was targeting for people walking in groups so that each person "contribute" lesser, then the tendency of people "lending" her the money is more likely possible
Freaking rude cannot-make-it con-artist, totally spoiled the end of my vacation!! Grrrr

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