This is a pro.
I had a visit last night from a relatively short woman wearing dark
clothes--really not much distinguishable about her--seeking money to get back to
Delaware. I suggested that I could call the police to assist her, and she
was quick to state that she'd already talked to them and they couldn't provide
assistance to get her to Delaware.
One characteristic of a good con is a ready response to even the most
mean-spirited counters the mark can make--and that characteristic alone is a
tip-off, I think.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 8:16
AM
Subject: [UC] (no subject)
This past Thursday afternoon, a woman came to my door, waking me from a
nap, saying that she needed help, that she was 62 years old and undergoing
chemotherapy for cancer. She was short, very wrinkled, and looked
at least 70. I imagined that I saw some blotches on her left
cheek, but I was both half asleep and wanting to connect her with
the many recent posts about a scammer. I live on the
4500 block of Regent Street. The woman at my door
claimed to be a neighbor and then when I said "I know who you are,
I've heard all about you, and you don't live on my street." At
which point she said "I'm your neighbor around the corner, I live on
48th st." I replied "I'm sorry, I don't trust you," to
which she answered "I trust in Jesus," shook her head, and
toddled off toward Clark Park. The dog-walker who
had brought her to my door, because I am the only person she knows on
Regent Street (lucky me!) apologized profusely to me and took
her leave. My question to all of you who've
met the scamming lady is whether my visitor is likely to be the same
person. I don't remember reading anything about her apparent
age in any of your posts. If I'd been more together at
the time, I might have called the police or UCD or at least
suggested to the woman that she might get help from them, or I
could have directed her to the health center across the
park. It is awfully sad that so many wretched
people are walking our streets, where they are clearly not getting
the help they need.
B. Tilley
