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is this new or what? i was relatively surprised a few weeks back when an arab lady stopped me as I came out of al-ain centre and asked me for money.

but total shocker today when a black maxima with tinted windows pulls up next to me as i walk to lunch. there is a fairly well dressed arab family inside including kids in dresses. the driver goes to me, "salam sir, we're visiting dubai from oman and I've lost my wallet and don't have money for gas. can you loan me some money."

now we've all heard of this technique in many other cities, and i just wasn't expecting it here. is it common?

terranova wrote:is this new or what? i was relatively surprised a few weeks back when an arab lady stopped me as I came out of al-ain centre and asked me for money.

but total shocker today when a black maxima with tinted windows pulls up next to me as i walk to lunch. there is a fairly well dressed arab family inside including kids in dresses. the driver goes to me, "salam sir, we're visiting dubai from oman and I've lost my wallet and don't have money for gas. can you loan me some money."

now we've all heard of this technique in many other cities, and i just wasn't expecting it here. is it common?

did you give her money? what did you do? I don't have that experience here.

You know, not all Arabs are oil sheihks with huge mansions and expensive cars...

I get asked all the time for money usually I find Diyafa road in the winter months the worst for beggers, I think about 40% are probably scammers, people who boat in from iran to beg for a season but I'm a sukker I always give some food and usually money as well.

fayz wrote:I'm a sukker I always give some food and usually money as well.

Perfect.

Please give me food from Beni Hana. I like sushi. Also, give me money. Anything you can spare, AED 300K should be OK for now.

Thanks Fayz. You truely are a good friend and wonderful sucka!!!!

Liban wrote:

fayz wrote:I'm a sukker I always give some food and usually money as well.

Perfect.

Please give me food from Beni Hana. I like sushi. Also, give me money. Anything you can spare, AED 300K should be OK for now.

Thanks Fayz. You truely are a good friend and wonderful sucka!!!!

lol

Liban wrote:

fayz wrote:I'm a sukker I always give some food and usually money as well.

Perfect.

Please give me food from Beni Hana. I like sushi. Also, give me money. Anything you can spare, AED 300K should be OK for now.

Thanks Fayz. You truely are a good friend and wonderful sucka!!!!

Tough Luck buddy, I got in there first and i scammed 400k and a hamper from Harrods from him

I must be labelled a big sucka then cause I got em coming to my bloody door.

One came and I offered her 100. Then she tells me she has four kids so she needs 400. So, I cant believe a beggar is negotiating with me. We settled on 200.

The following week another one comes. Now, Im dense, but not braindead. So, I told her to piss off.

Anyways, arent there muslim societies and shite in the Gulf for these people to go get money from?

terranova wrote:is this new or what? i was relatively surprised a few weeks back when an arab lady stopped me as I came out of al-ain centre and asked me for money.

but total shocker today when a black maxima with tinted windows pulls up next to me as i walk to lunch. there is a fairly well dressed arab family inside including kids in dresses. the driver goes to me, "salam sir, we're visiting dubai from oman and I've lost my wallet and don't have money for gas. can you loan me some money."

now we've all heard of this technique in many other cities, and i just wasn't expecting it here. is it common?

and let me guess something: they never pay u back....the loan!
i used to come across some kids everyday on my way to college. when the traffic lighs were red they came and asked for money, i used to gave them some until one 10 y old kid came to my car and knocked the window asking for money. i was not having money and when he saw my cigarettes he saied, well it's ok if u don't have , gimme a cig. and it's fine by me! and all that happenes in romania, but in the emirates???? begging at the luxury level!

Hey, wait for Ramadan-it is worse. We got hassled by kids (same kids several times throughout the month) in the carpark of Union Coop and my kids were actually scared-very aggressive and this isn't considered begging during Ramadan. I was really peeved too-I've been to countries where there really are needy beggars who I used to buy food for and give money regularly....once we saw these same kids follow their mother to the car with a cart full (and I mean full) of groceries.

I've also had a guy stop in his car and ask me for money for petrol and food because he said he was on holiday and his car had to be fixed and he had paid the garage but now had no money-sorry, but this just irritates me, it is a scam. His story was so long and his "please sister help me" act just peed me off so he didn't get a thing and not even my sympathy.

The true needy nationals are taken care of by their government. Those begging just do so for no real reason.

There was this one guy by my university, he had an MBA and was a millionaire, but he would be out every day at the street corner by my faculty begging for money. He was clean shaven and dressed decently. It is a disease with some people. A mental problem.

no, i didn't give anything to either.

the woman was very "healthy" so didn't really look like she was hungry. and the guy in the maxima i just pretended i didn't speak any englishyyyy

"say whaaaa... que pasooooo.. parlez vous?"

terranova wrote:is this new or what? i was relatively surprised a few weeks back when an arab lady stopped me as I came out of al-ain centre and asked me for money.

but total shocker today when a black maxima with tinted windows pulls up next to me as i walk to lunch. there is a fairly well dressed arab family inside including kids in dresses. the driver goes to me, "salam sir, we're visiting dubai from oman and I've lost my wallet and don't have money for gas. can you loan me some money."

now we've all heard of this technique in many other cities, and i just wasn't expecting it here. is it common?

It is a scam !!
don't give any of those people money !!!
why !! I will tell u why !!
Story # 1:
2 months back I was walking from my house to a near by Cafe to meet some of my friends. I was only 30 meters away from my house when a maxima with Oman plates on it stopped and asked me for help ! He was a Pakistani guy with his wife, who covered her face and 2 kids sleeping in the back ! He said that his wallet was stolen and that the police could do nothing to him (lie # 1, if such a thing happened the police wouldn't leave u like this) and that he wanted money for gas for his car or at least for his kids to have milk and food !! I only had like 20Dhs in my pocket that day "i dunni why" yet I told him, that my house is only a couple of meters ahead and I will be more than happy to let them come over to have food and rest and give them money. He paused for a second and talked to his wife in Urdu, then he said: so u don't have cash (ahha ), I said no, so he like was feeling upset that he was unable to get something from me. Later on I found out that this is a way that some are following to get money from us !! how, they usually work in a hotel or have people working in a hotel, they use their customer's cars to go around for a couple of hours when the car ihas stoped for some time and not being used . In other words it like a Mafia thing !!!

Story #2:
a friend of mine who works in Eppco told me that one day a friend oh his and him were leaving work around 4 when a Nissan Patrol tinted window stopped by and asked for some money to go back home to Al-Ain. That guy was smart enough to know if he was truly in need for the money or not, and told him, I am sorry all I have is a 500 Dhs bill, I don't have change, the driver Immediately responded, but I do !!! !! so when he found out that his made up story is uncovered, he fled the place at once !!! what a stuiped guy !!!

Story #3:
2 years back, some one was at the door, I went to see who is it to see a good lokking young female dressed up in Abayya and a mobile in here hand !! so i thought maybe it is one of my mother's friends or her acquaintances so i asked here to see who is it !! and guess what, she was begging !!! , my mother kicked her off and called up the security guy in the building to escort here out !! my mother told me that the Abbaya she was wearing was like 500+ Dhs and that she had the latest mobile in her hand !!! with a black leather purse !! Well i guess those people do follow the latest style !!! !! and she came asking for money !?!? for what to buy the latest set from Vectoria's Secrets ?!?!?

Story #4:
I read this in AL-Khaleej paper, a Dr. running an institute wrote about this thing and gave a couple of stories, she said that once in a super market a man was paying for his Groceries when a woman approached him saying that she forgot her wallet and she wants him to pay also for her groceries!! well simply go home lady and grab ur wallet or call up someone to come with some cash !! another story was that one day a women came crying to her in the office and she was emanding to see the manage, so the Dr. agreed to see her !! and guess what, she was saying that she has a rent to pay of 4000Dhs this month and she has a daughter in a hospital being treated for cancer, the smart doctor told her I will give u a check of the total expenses for a year if u could just get me medical reports and the a copy of the leasing contrcat, the women being upset started claming that there is not time for such things and she doesn't know how to do this , the manager said again that she will pay for a year if she can get proof !! well the lady left with a red face !! the Dr. said that there are around 40 offices in the building so imagine if she was able to collect 400Dhs from each office !! she will end up scoring 16,000 in a day !!

It is diificult nowadays to know who is really in need from those who are not, but what I know for sure that the people who are really in need have their own self-esteem that they don't even go out asking people for money . Those are the ones that worth every dirham we pay !!

Palkid7 wrote:
It is diificult nowadays to know who is really in need from those who are not, but what I know for sure that the people who are really in need have their own self-esteem that they don't even go out asking people for money . Those are the ones that worth every dirham we pay !!

So true.....

PS - Thanks for some great ideas. I will be more careful in my scams then those people. I promiss.

I apply same rules as when I go travel in SE Asia - food only. If they are true beggers they will value a meal more than the $ u can spare.

Hey if someone wants to invite me out for food I wouldn't say no...

XRW, I am hungry... Buy me lunch?

Come to JAFZ and lunch is on me bro.

XRW-147 wrote:Come to JAFZ and lunch is on me bro.

Somebody stole my car and my wallet. Can you come by and pick me up or give me money for a round trip cab ride or better yet, give me a car?

On a serious note (if ever there was one), I always thought you worked in Media City... Dunno why

a woman once asked me in city center and i only had 60 dhs with me so i thought: "give the poor woman the money? or dinner at chilis and a movie?"

i struggled with that decision for like 2 seconds and i told her that i have no money right now it's all in the hotel room. i know it sounds horrible but i don't think she'd be happy even if i gave her the 60 they tend to ask for more everytime.

Liban wrote:Somebody stole my car and my wallet. Can you come by and pick me up or give me money for a round trip cab ride or better yet, give me a car?

They obviously have no taste

I guess beggers can't be choosers

Liban wrote:On a serious note (if ever there was one), I always thought you worked in Media City... Dunno why

Serious note? In DF? Now thats funny!

Nup, JAFZ is my bread and butter.

Moester wrote:a woman once asked me in city center and i only had 60 dhs with me so i thought: "give the poor woman the money? or dinner at chilis and a movie?"

i struggled with that decision for like 2 seconds and i told her that i have no money right now it's all in the hotel room. i know it sounds horrible but i don't think she'd be happy even if i gave her the 60 they tend to ask for more everytime.

As all women do!!

GAB wrote:

Moester wrote:a woman once asked me in city center and i only had 60 dhs with me so i thought: "give the poor woman the money? or dinner at chilis and a movie?"

i struggled with that decision for like 2 seconds and i told her that i have no money right now it's all in the hotel room. i know it sounds horrible but i don't think she'd be happy even if i gave her the 60 they tend to ask for more everytime.

As all women do!!

probably why i'm single, I'M BROKE
looooooool

XRW-147 wrote:
They obviously have no taste

I guess beggers can't be choosers

Thats what I was thinking too

Yep, I figured you guys were thinking that. Which reminds me Liban, I need to get in touch with your wife and teach her the rules of a successful marriage......... You are going to be broke by the time the summer sales are over!

The same happened in Sharjah to my wife at Spinneys on King Faisal Rd, as she was walking to her car a white maxima with Oman plates pulls up and gave her the exact speech also with the young kids in the backseat. my wife thought instead of giving money she offered a pack of biscuits since he said the kids were hungry she had just bought and he refused said he prefered money. that when she excused herself and kept walking to her car. "his family could not have been famished if they refused the biscuits"