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Keith B wrote:

VMI77 wrote:
I actually got the sequence of events out of order in the second paragraph. He actually volunteered first that he went to HS in Port Isabel and my wife told him I went there too.

It is not really uncommon to run across people half-way around the globe who know someone you know or is related to someone you know. I have frequently had that happen.

One small example was the first time I ever went to Dallas (was living in Missouri at the time). A group of us went into a western store in a mall to look at some boots. When the store clerk asked where we were all from, one guys says 'Minnesota', another says 'Kansas', and one of the other guys says the little city and state in Missouri. She says 'I know where that is'. I tell here the town where I am from and she says 'So am I!'. She told me her name, and I said 'Well, I know your little sister and your parents. I am Keith Bxxxx'. She says 'I know your Mom; she was my girl scout troop leader.'

Another time in Germany I ended up sitting beside my best friends cousin while riding on a train between Kaiserslautern and Frankfurt.

Just recently I was looking on Facebook and realized my wife's cousin from Florida was on the same river cruise in France with really good friends of mine from Dallas. They didn't know each other, but I told them both to look each other up at dinner. They were sitting at tables next to each other on the cruise.

So, Six Degrees of Separation is a pretty real thing. But you can quickly break down when someone it trying to scam you by doing just a little review and know they are not telling the truth.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

VMI77 wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:

JRG wrote:These beggar types are all over Tucson. Pull up for gas anywhere and I will be pestered for money by at least one and sometimes 2 or 3 within minutes. I want to give them a $5 McDonald's card but with what you guys have said in the previous replies, makes that a no go also since they really do not want food.

Joe

A guy in Tucson approaches me while I'm pumping gas, sees my Texas plates, and tells me he's from Texas too, and us Texans have to stick together, right? I stopped him right there and told him I don't carry cash. He lost interest in our common interests and wandered off.

A guy in Florida approached me at a gas pump many years ago. He said I saw your Texas plates and that your car came from a dealer in Brownsville...I'm from the RGV and my parents live there. Oh, I say...what does your dad do? He works for XXX. I work for XXX too....what office does he work in? He works at the XXX XXXXXX office. Really, what's his name? His name is XXXXX. Well, I not only know your dad, he is in the office right next to mine and we work together on various projects. I ask him....what brings you to Florida? I'm going to a job interview in Tampa.

Still at the same gas station, my wife goes into the office to pay (this was many moons ago), and I see some guy (a different guy) chatting her up. She gets back to the car and I ask what that was about. Oh, he saw our Texas plates and that the car was purchased in Brownsville and asked if we were from the RGV....I said we were and that my husband went to HS in Port Isabel. He said he went to HS in Port Isabel. He said he didn't think you knew him but he was a freshman when you were a senior.

A good con is an acquired skill.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

JRG wrote:These beggar types are all over Tucson. Pull up for gas anywhere and I will be pestered for money by at least one and sometimes 2 or 3 within minutes. I want to give them a $5 McDonald's card but with what you guys have said in the previous replies, makes that a no go also since they really do not want food.

Joe

A guy in Tucson approaches me while I'm pumping gas, sees my Texas plates, and tells me he's from Texas too, and us Texans have to stick together, right? I stopped him right there and told him I don't carry cash. He lost interest in our common interests and wandered off.

Beiruty wrote:Last time, I was driving to Houston. I stopped at Gas Station off I-45 and FM-1960. I was approached by a rapper-like-dressed black person and he was asking for a change. I quickly replied, I do not carry change!! My teen daughter was in the passenger side. We both did not like what was going on. I jumped back into my car after a min or so standing my guard. The guy was going back to his (Lexus?) car and came back wanted to talk to me while I was in MB convertible. I just ignored him.

A tip-top dressed person asking for a change??!!! My Alarms start going yellow to orange and flashing.....
Stay Alert. Stay aware about your safety zone.

Tracker wrote:His story? He wanted to know if he could take her pickup to the car wash and clean for a few dollars more while she went shopping inside.