- Time of past OR future Camino
- Fall 2012, again Fall 2014.
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First of all ATM´s don´t destroy credit cards bank employees do. Second don´t know of any embassy which reissues a credit card. They do issues passports,visas, etc but not a credit card.
Ondo Ibili !
He never asked anyone for money,
.
I take exception to some of you second guessing me and others who dealt with this man face-to-face. On the same day, I left a very generous donativo for another person trying to help himself and others.
The man I described was healthy, very fit, had a military bearing, and was armed with a combat style knife. He was not destitute, or homeless, nor did he appear without some means of taking care of himself. He told the same practiced story to 4 different people that I spoke to. All of whom seemed to me to be good honest generous people. They all were leery of this man and all had the same opinion.
I am almost 67 years old and I know how banks and departments of state work. I also know that if you do not directly ask for money you can plausibly deny you were running a scam.
Trusting or not, good or bad is not in question here. I'm just hoping to forwarn others who may run into this man in the near future.
Tyrrek, you didn't second guess my story, you made up a gang of thieves. Along with your own concocted story about how someone lives.I doubt that he was hoping for any more than a few euros towards food and lodgings, so in that sense it's probably just an elaborate form of begging. Then it's up to you how you respond.
The only way I can see this as a scam is if he uses the interaction (and you getting your wallet out) to identify who is carrying a lot of cash and where they're carrying it. Then he or an accomplice 'retrieves' it later eg in an albergue.
Always be careful. Always be kind. He could be Jesus.
Done for me too. Enjoy the rest of your Camino.Tyrrek, you didn't second guess my story, you made up a gang of thieves. Along with your own concocted story about how someone lives.
There is a difference between being kind, honest and generous, and being a victim.
My initial post contained what information a prudent person might need.
The matter is done for me, I'm well past Logroño.
The best thing any of us can do is offer a prayer and blessing! So much more valuable than money. It is the power of the CaminoOn the way out of Logroño a couple of days ago, we were approached by a man who was walking toward Logroño. He claimed to be a long distance pilgrim, with a quick but elaborate story about his travels. He said his credit card had been destroyed in an ATM, and he was being required to walk back to Madrid to his embassy (German) to get a replacement card. Said he only had 6 euros in his pocket. He was well groomed and outfitted like a pilgrim.
I was suspicious of him and his story, so bid him good luck and we walked on. It was a remote section, but he did not follow or bother us again.
Over the past days, I have asked others about seeing him and several people have shared similar encounters, all with the same elaborate story and even report seeing the broken credit card. He was even seen in Logroño talking with several groups in a couple of different languages. He never asked anyone for money, and did not threaten anyone. But this seems to be a scam of some sort, folks I spoke with agree.
I don't think it is cause for alarm. I don't think he is dangerous. I may alert the police today. Be careful.
The possibility of this being a scam is irrelevant. We are often presented with decisions in life and we have to choose how we will react. We either act appropriately or not. If I have determined that I am acting with a good heart then I am done with the situation. I don't expect anything in return and should someone take advantage of my desire to choose the right then any bad karma from such an action is on them; again, not my problem.
Last week in Doha I was stopped by a young Indian fellow. At first he made a request for funds and quickly began to share a story of woe and harsh challenge. I stopped him and asked him what he wanted. I did not have a lot of time, but he finally stated that he was in need of funds to return to India. I opened my wallet, knowing that I was not carrying an abundance of cash, and gave him all I had. He thanked me and I moved on. Afterward I thought that maybe this was not valid situation of need, but I don't see how I could have done differently. If there was need, I was able to aid him. If there was not need, I think still chose the better path.
The only question I have to consider is how much can I afford to give. With as much pain there is in the world if we can be a source of relief of any degree of that pain then we have done a good thing.
He probably had a need for alchohol or drugs. You helped him go deeper into his problems. But feel good, you helped him.
We may have seen the same man waiting at the train station in Bayonne earlier this August. He was from Germany, couldn't get help from the embassy, flashed us his broken credit cards and blurry photos he'd taken - told us he had already been to Santiago and trying to get home. He didn't outright ask us for money, but I noted he had very expensive hiking gear and about 50 yrs of age. In one hour he'd got all but 6 euros needed for his ticket home, so we were told,On the way out of Logroño a couple of days ago, we were approached by a man who was walking toward Logroño. He claimed to be a long distance pilgrim, with a quick but elaborate story about his travels. He said his credit card had Beene destroyed in an ATM, and he was being required to walk back to Madrid to his embassy (German) to get a replacement card. Said he only had 6 euros in his pocket. He was well groomed and outfitted like a pilgrim.
I was suspicious of him and his story, so bid him good luck and we walked on. It was a remote section, but he did not follow or bother us again.
Over the past days, I have asked others about seeing him and several people have shared similar encounters, all with the same elaborate story and even report seeing the broken credit card. He was even seen in Logroño talking with several groups in a couple of different languages. He never asked anyone for money, and did not threaten anyone. But this seems to be a scam of some sort, folks I spoke with agree.
I don't think it is cause for alarm. I don't think he is dangerous. I may alert the police today. Be careful.
You met him then. He was there March 2013 on the way into Logroño and a few days later outside Najera. The only difference is that back then he was trying to get to Vigo and yes, I say the shredded card. He told us of a free albergue but the f****ing priest would not let him in. I knew it was a scam but just in case that on an outside chance he was down on his luck, I gave him € 5. And as you say, he never asked for anything. When we met him again in Najera we asked him how it was going and was he any nearer to Vigo. Realising he was rumbled he said something to us in German. I dont speak the language but I just knew it was something nasty by the tone. Wonder how much he has made in the past yearOn the way out of Logroño a couple of days ago, we were approached by a man who was walking toward Logroño. He claimed to be a long distance pilgrim, with a quick but elaborate story about his travels. He said his credit card had been destroyed in an ATM, and he was being required to walk back to Madrid to his embassy (German) to get a replacement card. Said he only had 6 euros in his pocket. He was well groomed and outfitted like a pilgrim.
I was suspicious of him and his story, so bid him good luck and we walked on. It was a remote section, but he did not follow or bother us again.
Over the past days, I have asked others about seeing him and several people have shared similar encounters, all with the same elaborate story and even report seeing the broken credit card. He was even seen in Logroño talking with several groups in a couple of different languages. He never asked anyone for money, and did not threaten anyone. But this seems to be a scam of some sort, folks I spoke with agree.
I don't think it is cause for alarm. I don't think he is dangerous. I may alert the police today. Be careful.
You met him then. He was there March 2013 on the way into Logroño and a few days later outside Najera. The only difference is that back then he was trying to get to Vigo and yes, I say the shredded card. He told us of a free albergue but the f****ing priest would not let him in. I knew it was a scam but just in case that on an outside chance he was down on his luck, I gave him € 5. And as you say, he never asked for anything. When we met him again in Najera we asked him how it was going and was he any nearer to Vigo. Realising he was rumbled he said something to us in German. I dont speak the language but I just knew it was something nasty by the tone. Wonder how much he has made in the past year. I mention him in my book so he will be hoping not too many read it thus ending his livlihood lol[/QUOTE
Another scam???
Also, about a day after (end of September) Sarria, we came upon a pair of local gals using sign language, holding a clip board for us to sign, fill in our name and the amount of donation we would give for the deaf & blind. I just knew it was a scam, as I'd heard of this here on the forum and also noted the paper on their clipboard had nothing official on it, like their organization, phone numbers, etc., just a simple text that anyone could come up with.
Always be careful. Always be kind. He could be Jesus.
Share a meal, pay for a bed in the albergue, maybe buy the bus/train ticket to the next place but not give money. The genuine will be appreciative, the scammers will learn to look elswhere. Yes, we can 'entertain angels unaware', but Jesus while accepting hospitality did not ask for money and he gave - feeding of the 5,000 comes to mind.
Our work background taught us to give help but not cash.
When it is a 100% chance that it is a scam, the right call is easy to make.Sometimes we make the right call, sometimes we don't.
We were told by our young taxi driver in Santiago, after asking if the under-nourished young girl curled up on the ground in the pouring rain with her hands out, begging for money was a scam or truly in need. He told us that she is a scam, that she is controlled by the Mafia. If she runs away or tries to leave, the Mafia will kill her family. Locals know this and police know this and no one helps them. Looking into their eyes, you can see they have lost hope and are in a living hell. I told our driver that I had wanted to at least give her our unbrella -- He said that they would just throw/take it away from her. Really sad and horrifying.I have given street people my sandwiches, bought breakfast and lunches, given my warm parka, and always conversation and smiles and, critically, respect. On camino I might pay for accommodation or buy someone a meal or purchase a bus ticket. But money - only to researched charity or those whose circumstances I know.
Giving money to people is not simply a benign action without consequences.
Consider my panhandler client who was entitled to and received a disability pension. She refused publicly funded permanent accommodation, social support and medical treatment for her rampant diabetes because it would limit the time she could spend begging. She preferred to remain homeless and sleep near her "spot". She was making almost $80,000 a year from well intentioned people. Those handouts kept her in thrall to her "handler", to whom she gave most of the money. They kept her on the streets in winter conditions, and eventually led to her premature death.
Consider the children in India who are deliberately maimed to make them more valuable as beggars. Consider the "orphanages" in Cambodia whose operators have bought or stolen children from their impoverished families. Well meaning volunteers pay to work in these orphanages, tourists support them. Western consciences have created an ugly trade whose currency is children.
"He could have been Jesus". "Or the Devil".
You can't change the world but you can change the moment.
Perhaps the answer could be to call the police (or offer to) to get them some assistance or to direct them in the right direction for the assistance they need!
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