Tuesday, March 8, 2011

A Curious Kind of Scam

About a month ago, as my sister and I were walking back to our car in the Wholefoods parking lot on 3rd Street, a woman asked for help. Apparently she was an Elementary school teacher and had car problems. She offered me $5 for my Triple A membership card so she could "call the breakdown service."

My husband is notoriously suspicious of everyone (he has a vivid imagination - oh wait, he's a writer, too). He shreds every scrap of paper that ever crosses his path and is obsessed with the prospect of having his identity stolen. Knowing he'd freak out, I said "sorry no." But - I felt terrible. Especially when it began to rain.

Last week I was shopping in Ralphs downtown and the same woman approached me! I couldn't believe it! This time she offered $60 for my Triple A membership card. This store is 9 miles from Wholefoods! She obviously has some kind of scam going. I pointed out that she'd already "asked me" and she scurried off.

I'm more annoyed by the fact that I wasted all that energy feeling guilty the first time. So for you gullible people out there - beware! On this occasion (just this one), it would seem my husband is right.

4 comments:

  1. That does sound like a scam. It is ashame we have to be so leary of people because you just never know. I wonder what she would have done with the information she got off your card. Scary to think.

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  2. Hi Amy ... you are right! It's no wonder that the days of being a Good Samaritan have gone. I think she could get my birthday and possibly social security number? She must have been having some luck though as she'd raised the price from $5 to $60! Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Sometimes you want to be nice but that doubt lingers.

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  4. Hi Dru - Perhaps it's an instinct ... if I see her again however .... :)

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