Advice sought: Should I send money

imhere0905 · Apr 24th, 2006, 06:29

Hi All

I am in a dilemma, when I was in India I met a nice guy who showed me around Khajuraho. I got an email from him yesterday saying he was in Mumbai and had been robbed of everything and needed some money sent to him and it was quicker/easier from somewhere overseas as opposed to from his family in Khajuraho, unfortunately he gave his address in Khajuraho which has made me suspicious as I thought through Western Union you need to give an address closest to where you want to pick the money up from.

I suppose I'm just wondering what to do, if it's true I feel really bad that this happened and would feel bad that I didn't help but I just have a suspicious feeling. What do you think? Thanks

cyberhippie · Apr 24th, 2006, 06:37

No I'd say don't do it!! There are other ways for him to get money if this has happened!!

It sounds very much like a scam to me anyway!!

imhere0905 · Apr 24th, 2006, 06:46

Yeah, I suppose that's why I got upset and my first instinct was not to do it but it has been on mind constantly since I got the email. thanks

cyberhippie · Apr 24th, 2006, 06:49

Yeah it's difficult I know because your just not sure and you don't want to let them down. I've had similar requests over the years but never from people I really call friends, just aquaintences!

I think as you noticed, it's a bit suspiscious him wanting the money sent to his home address!!
It would be many days before the money reached him!!

Sama · Apr 24th, 2006, 06:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by imhere0905

it was quicker/easier from somewhere overseas as opposed to from his family in Khajuraho

yeah, right!

send him money? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Last month a man I met wanted me to send him a cell phone from America along with $30 US!

imhere0905 · Apr 24th, 2006, 07:08

Hey Yogogal I love the avatar and thanks for the advice both of you I just wanted to confirm my own thoughts and feelings about the matter.

I feel like a cow not sending it but I will just have to get over that....

cyberhippie · Apr 24th, 2006, 07:15

I recieved a letter from somone in India who I don't know asking me to marry his sister who was a nurse in Ireland!!

Funny thing was the letter was adressed with my wifes name!!!

Merchant · Apr 24th, 2006, 07:25

Why not? What's the big deal. It's just some money. Maybe the guy is telling the truth.

Sama · Apr 24th, 2006, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by imhere0905

I just wanted to confirm my own thoughts and feelings about the matter.

I feel like a cow not sending it but I will just have to get over that....

just go with your gut. usually our first feelings are 99% accurate.

I also felt bad for the guy I mentioned as he was very nice to me for the 3 days I was in this particular town, but I went with my gut, girlfriend....

cyberhippie · Apr 24th, 2006, 07:37

Quote:

Why not? What's the big deal. It's just some money. Maybe the guy is telling the truth.

Send merchant the address, he's feeling flush and charitable

Merchant · Apr 24th, 2006, 08:09

There are less interesting and more fruitless ways to spend $50 than sending it to India. I'm always amazed that people return from India having experienced countless kindnesses, received gifts, meals, rides, etc., from perfect strangers and yet the thought of one of those people asking for cash drives folks up a wall. If he had written and asked for a book or tie or box set of DVDs, most of us would happily send them along--but when cash is requested, we all go funny, lest we be "scammed." Which is apparently the worst fate to befall the western tourist. That he or she will be relieved of some money and it will be used for purposes other than those stated at the outset. It's all quite silly when you take two steps back and think about it. If you wish to respond to such entreaties for money, or you don't, it's really not that big a deal . . .

cyberhippie · Apr 24th, 2006, 08:18

Fair point merchant but i'm a bit confused as to why in such a desperate situation he would get the money sent to his own address when he's supposedly stranded in Mumbai??
Seems fishy to me why couldn't he just say he's strapped for cash, can you spare some?

Come to think about it I've had a great time in India, maybe I should have married that Indian lass to help her out, I'll run it bye the wife

capt_mahajan · Apr 24th, 2006, 08:45

no.

unless you agree to be scammed, that is.

imhere0905 · Apr 24th, 2006, 09:32

Thanks for your thoughts Merchant, my thoughts were along the line of it is only $50 but then again also thanks Capt mahajan.

s :-)

Merchant · Apr 24th, 2006, 10:29

The worst of it is that some guy who takes tourists around Khajuraho has to ingratiate himself for a handout from people who piss away $4.50 on a cup of coffee. You know nothing of this guy, cyberhippie. Who are you to judge him?

I don't know if he is a scam artist, and I don't really care. I'm sure there are other things he would prefer to do with his time than send emails asking for money. But not everyone in the world earns a living wage, and "scamming" tourists helps put roti on the table.

What's the worst that could happen? He loses the $50 in a drunken card game and sends another email. So what.

Apr 24th, 2006, 06:29	#1
imhere0905 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 199	Advice sought: Should I send money Hi All I am in a dilemma, when I was in India I met a nice guy who showed me around Khajuraho. I got an email from him yesterday saying he was in Mumbai and had been robbed of everything and needed some money sent to him and it was quicker/easier from somewhere overseas as opposed to from his family in Khajuraho, unfortunately he gave his address in Khajuraho which has made me suspicious as I thought through Western Union you need to give an address closest to where you want to pick the money up from. I suppose I'm just wondering what to do, if it's true I feel really bad that this happened and would feel bad that I didn't help but I just have a suspicious feeling. What do you think? Thanks

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Apr 24th, 2006, 06:37	#2
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	No I'd say don't do it!! There are other ways for him to get money if this has happened!! It sounds very much like a scam to me anyway!!

Apr 24th, 2006, 06:46	#3
imhere0905 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 199	Yeah, I suppose that's why I got upset and my first instinct was not to do it but it has been on mind constantly since I got the email. thanks

Apr 24th, 2006, 06:49	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Yeah it's difficult I know because your just not sure and you don't want to let them down. I've had similar requests over the years but never from people I really call friends, just aquaintences! I think as you noticed, it's a bit suspiscious him wanting the money sent to his home address!! It would be many days before the money reached him!!

Apr 24th, 2006, 07:08	#6
imhere0905 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 199	Hey Yogogal I love the avatar and thanks for the advice both of you I just wanted to confirm my own thoughts and feelings about the matter. I feel like a cow not sending it but I will just have to get over that....

Apr 24th, 2006, 07:15	#7
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	I recieved a letter from somone in India who I don't know asking me to marry his sister who was a nurse in Ireland!! Funny thing was the letter was adressed with my wifes name!!!

Apr 24th, 2006, 07:25	#8
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,214	Why not? What's the big deal. It's just some money. Maybe the guy is telling the truth.

Apr 24th, 2006, 08:09	#11
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,214	There are less interesting and more fruitless ways to spend $50 than sending it to India. I'm always amazed that people return from India having experienced countless kindnesses, received gifts, meals, rides, etc., from perfect strangers and yet the thought of one of those people asking for cash drives folks up a wall. If he had written and asked for a book or tie or box set of DVDs, most of us would happily send them along--but when cash is requested, we all go funny, lest we be "scammed." Which is apparently the worst fate to befall the western tourist. That he or she will be relieved of some money and it will be used for purposes other than those stated at the outset. It's all quite silly when you take two steps back and think about it. If you wish to respond to such entreaties for money, or you don't, it's really not that big a deal . . .

Apr 24th, 2006, 08:18	#12
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Fair point merchant but i'm a bit confused as to why in such a desperate situation he would get the money sent to his own address when he's supposedly stranded in Mumbai?? Seems fishy to me why couldn't he just say he's strapped for cash, can you spare some? Come to think about it I've had a great time in India, maybe I should have married that Indian lass to help her out, I'll run it bye the wife

Apr 24th, 2006, 08:45	#13
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,608	no. unless you agree to be scammed, that is.

Apr 24th, 2006, 09:32	#14
imhere0905 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 199	Thanks for your thoughts Merchant, my thoughts were along the line of it is only $50 but then again also thanks Capt mahajan. s :-)

Apr 24th, 2006, 10:29	#15
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,214	The worst of it is that some guy who takes tourists around Khajuraho has to ingratiate himself for a handout from people who piss away $4.50 on a cup of coffee. You know nothing of this guy, cyberhippie. Who are you to judge him? I don't know if he is a scam artist, and I don't really care. I'm sure there are other things he would prefer to do with his time than send emails asking for money. But not everyone in the world earns a living wage, and "scamming" tourists helps put roti on the table. What's the worst that could happen? He loses the $50 in a drunken card game and sends another email. So what.