Sometimes you just have to demand your money back
November 2, 2007 – 7:39 amThis is not my story… it is my sister’s. But, seeing as how you don’t know her and she doesn’t have a blog, AND given that I find the tale highly amusing, I’m going to tell it.
***
My younger sister, Mo, was on her way to our house for dinner, when she called me on her cell phone to find out if there was anything she could bring.
As luck would have it, I’d forgotten to pick up the Ricotta cheese that my Butternut Squash pasta recipe called for.
(Yep, you read that right, Butternut Squash Pasta. Shocking, isn’t it?)
Mo kindly offered to stop at the grocery store and pick some up.
She pulled her car into a local Safeway for a quick stop. But before she had even put the car in Park, a large man appeared beside her door, peering through the window.
Feeling rather nervous, but determined not to be intimidated, Mo opened the door and stepped out of the car.
“Sorry if I scared ya, ma’am,” said the stranger, “A big ugly black man like me.”
Mo was caught off guard. “Um, no… uh…”
“I was just hoping that you might have a gas can that I could borrow?”
… which was a perfectly reasonable request, after all. But, like most of us, Mo doesn’t travel quite so well prepared. “I’m sorry, I don’t.” she told him.
“Well then, can you spare $3.50 for the gas can deposit? My car ran out of gas, and my kids are in it, and I don’t have any money… and you have to give them money for the gas can deposit.”
Okaaaay…
Like any good citizen, Mo pulled out her wallet and peeled off a $5 bill from the stack inside (she’d just gotten paid, so her wallet was pleasantly plump this day).
Her new friend also noticed the plumpness.
“Can you spare some more money for the gas, please, miss?” he asked, ever-so-politely. “I have kids in my car and we ran out of gas…”
By this time, Mo was starting to feel conned. Something about the way his eyes darted around the parking lot, the repeated mention of the “kids,” and the greedy way he had peered inside her wallet. But still she peeled off a $1 bill.
“That should be enough to get you going.” she said.
“Thank you, miss. Bless you.” He stuffed the $6 in his pocket and was off.
Mo turned back towards her car, leaned down and locked the door. She put her keys in her pocket, and then started across the parking lot towards the grocery store.
That’s when she heard it, from just a few spaces away.
“Do you have a gas can I can borrow?”
Upon hearing this all-too familiar line she froze and then whirled around. Sure enough, it was the same man, talking rapidly to two women who had just climbed out of a blue sedan.
I KNEW he was lying! Mo thought, frustrated at being caught off guard and giving in to such an obvious scam. Sure it was only $6, but still, it was HER $6. (She’s not a wealthy woman, my sister).
She stood for a moment, and then started towards the store again.
But then something stopped her. Enough! A voice inside her shouted, I will NOT be taken advantage of!
And just like that she spun around and marched over to the man.
“You are LYING!” she said angrily, pointing an accusing finger up at his chest.
You should know that my sister is only 5′ 4″, and so she was forced to look up in her MOST intimidating and menacing manner.
“I just GAVE YOU money for a gas can, and now you’re trying to get more money out of these women with the SAME story! That’s it. I want my $5 back. You can keep the $1, but I want my $5. Give it back. RIGHT NOW.” And she held out her hand, palm facing up, her other hand on her hip.
The man stuttered and sputtered and tried to talk his way out of this predicament.
The women looked on, mouths gaping open in astonishment. Who would win this stand-off? The small but very surly woman or the giant man?
“But my kids!” the man kept saying, to which Mo replied,
“I don’t even believe that you HAVE any kids. Now my $5… Give It Back. NOW.”
And you know what?
He did.
I only wish I could have been there to see it.
***
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By Angeline on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
oh my soooo exciting!
I can totally feel what it was like to be cheated!
I was in the almost exact shoes of your sis!
but was cheated by a blind man…hey blind man can be crooks too you know!
damn!
your sis must be shaking when she confronted him…well, I was….
gave you a five star rating
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By kara on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Your sister Mo is the bravest woman I know. GREAT job Mo. I would have walked right into the store bitching about the man in the parking lot but not doing anything about it.
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By Heather, Queen of Shake-Shake on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Whoooaaa! Go sis!! She has some balls!
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By Rimarama on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Woah, that took some serious guts. I wish we could all have spidey sense when it comes to situations like that.
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By Annie on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Good for her. One for giving the cash thinking he might need it. And two for standing up to him when she realised she was conned!
I doubt I would have done either!
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By Jessica @ A Bushel and a Peck on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
GOOD FOR HER! And brave too!
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By Jaclyn on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Oh my, that is too funny! I have seen people doing that around gas stations or grocery store parking lots. I’ve never given money to them, though.
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By chilihead on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Yessss! Mo, I love you.
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By Mommy Daisy on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
That’s a great story. Your sister is just as awesome as you!
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By Summer on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
That is so freaking awesome that she demanded it back!
We have people that come into our church every now and again trying to pull various money scams on our church members. One church member actually had $80 cash on her and gave it to a woman who made up some spiel about rent and writing a check. We know she was lying because as she left, another church member noticed her and said, “Don’t give that woman any money, she comes here every month or two.”
It was too late for the lady who lost her $80 though.
Who carries $80 cash on them to church in the downtown of a big city anyway?
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By Trish K on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Whoa, now that takes stones!! I would never had the courage to do that. Good for her
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By Worker Mommy on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Good for your sister but admittedly a little scary too - you never know what someone else is capable of.
Glad she was safe and got her $ back.
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By Neena on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Wow, that takes courage. I would have been scared for my personal safety.w
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By Eve on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
My ex gave a con man $20 once, he had a siliar story, only he sweetened the deal and gave us his “business card” and said we could stop by his restaurant any time for a free meal. We called the number, the restaurant didn’t exist. The girl on the line said they’d been getting calls frequently from people that had been conned as well. We were so pissed.
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By Mommin' It Up! on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
what a great story! Go Mo! What would he have done if she DID have a gas can I wonder??
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By LikeAstaR on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
YES!!! Chalk one up for all of us who have wanted to do this! I have a friend who gives food, or blankets from her car, but NEVER money! All too often they are conmen!
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By Sherry on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
You GO, Mo! Good for you!
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By Maureen on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Standing Ovation for Mo!!!!!
Yay! I am so proud of her for standing up to him. These scams are everywhere nowadays.
I am going to remember her the next time someone tries to hand me a line…
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By Misty Dawn on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Oh my gosh - I don’t think I would have had the nerve to go back and demand my money back. But, she did good to stop him from taking advantage of those other women too!
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By Jen on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
I like how she told him he could keep the $1 but that she wanted the $5 back. Good for her!
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By Monique on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
W00! That’s courageous and inspiring! I am not one to be cheated either, but I don’t have that bravery, lol. Go her!
On another note- it’s November! Are you still doing NaNoWriMo? How’s it going for you?
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By Joanne on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Hahaha, wow Mo is absolutely awesome!
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By Shawn on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
That’s a great story … I love it. There’s a guy I see now and then - who doesn’t remember me, but I remember him — who always asks for .75 — first time was to catch the bus and the second to buy a cheeseburger. He’s an unassuming type, but fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
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By Jill on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
That is one of the greatest stories ever. This is why blogs were invented.
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By Nola on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Holy crap! Your sister and my sister sound like they are one in the same. The balls these girls have! I am in awe!
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By Lela on Nov 2, 2007 | Reply
Wow, she is a gutsy one! I’m glad things turned out as well as they did!
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By sherry on Nov 3, 2007 | Reply
That is the BEST story I have read in a long time.
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By Sunshine on Nov 3, 2007 | Reply
She has got a set of stones on her, I’ll give her that much!
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By Mamma on Nov 3, 2007 | Reply
That’s awesome!! I’ve heard that story just one too many times. People used to come to our door when I lived in DC and ask for money for gas.
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By Keli on Nov 3, 2007 | Reply
That was very admirable of your sis to stand up to a lying stranger! That happens to me too in a particular shopping center parking lot. I get asked for travel fare, lunch money, etc. I try to give them lunch, but no. They want the dough!
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By cate on Nov 3, 2007 | Reply
oh my God, your sister ROCKS! good for her!
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By Jennifer aka Binky Bitch on Nov 4, 2007 | Reply
Wow! She’s brave!
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By Colleen on Nov 4, 2007 | Reply
Awesome, Just Awesome. High Five to Mo!
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By Anonymous on Nov 4, 2007 | Reply
Just a thought….but if the gas can was $3.50 and gas now days is near $3 that wouldn’t even get the guy a gallon. Having run out of gas before myself I know it takes at least two or three gallons to get the car back started and what about enough to get the man home.
Did she ask to see the kids?
So maybe he was a scammer…but maybe he wasn’t, maybe he was trying to come up with enough to really get himself home.
Personally I would have asked him to take me to see where his car with the kids were. Don’t get me wrong I was not born yesterday and living where I do I see the daily bum and scam.
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By SAHMmy Says on Nov 5, 2007 | Reply
Good for her! I get really freaked out when I’m approached by a man in a parking lot, especially when my back is turned while I’m putting the kids in their car seats. I always yell at them that they should have the sense not to approach women in a parking lot, ever. I’m usually treated to a stream of cursing which I heartily return, but so far (thank God!) they’ve all backed off.
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By Amy on Nov 5, 2007 | Reply
That. Is. Awesome. Your sister rocks!
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By Anonymous on Nov 5, 2007 | Reply
I’ll just shake my had and be a little bit happy that folks in Seattle can still be taken by this con. I used to listen to stories about needing change for bus fare, gas, . . . . I even argued that if it were true 50% of the time, I’d be willing to waste the rest of the money.
A college friend was convinced that all of these requests were cons, and that he’d only give people money if they just asked for it.
After years living in LA, Chicago, and DC, I turn my head and walk the other way, because I’ve finally come around to the college friends point of view. You all are good people. I hope your experiences are different.
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By creative-type dad on Nov 5, 2007 | Reply
Wow!
So they use the gas story out there too, huh?
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By hamiam on Nov 6, 2007 | Reply
That is an awesome story…definitely begged to be blogged!
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By shauna on Nov 8, 2007 | Reply
GO, MO! What a great story. Tell her I applauded her. Bravo! I can be such a pushover sometimes - I’ll remember her next time I get that sick feeling in my stomach that I’m being conned (because that’s really the feeling that needs to be honored the most).
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