Slammers at Walmart near WDW :(

[lovemy4sweeties]

I got scammed last night at a Walmart near WDW and I wanted to warn as many people as possible so it doesn't happen to you. I walked down the freezer aisle and I noticed a man put some change on the ground to count it and his pregnant wife standing at the freezer looking at food as though figuring out what they can afford. They looked unkempt and I assumed they were hungry, so without even thinking I handed her $20. They way she looked at me after she took it (as though she wasn't surprised at all, and even expecting it, maybe even an "I got you" smirk), made me second guess giving them money. My husband and I watched them without them knowing, and they did the same thing with they change on the ground every time someone walked down the aisle. The worst part about this is that it will deter people from wanting to help others in the future once they realize they've been scammed. I'm fine with it to though. God knows my heart and that's all that matters. I just wanted to make sure my fellow Disney fans are aware. I'm going to cross post to all my Disney groups, so I apologize if you see this more than once.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Hopefully you reported it to the manager there. They aren't allowed to pull that kind of thing on the property.

 

[Monorail_Man_NJ]

Never give people on the street money. Especially in Orlando. Venture outside of WDW and your in the Crack Cocaine capital of the country.

Before anyone thinks Im cold hearted. I work in NYC daily and see this crap all the time.
Its always for DRUGS. Heroin up here or Cocaine down south.

 

[dtkids]

Kind of a scam, should definitely be escorted out of Walmart...However...

If two people are in a place in their life that this is how they are "earning" money (and I do use the word earning pretty loosely here), they are most likely in need of that money.

You helped them. They needed it. Weren't honest about it, but they needed it.

Keep being the light.

 

[Marionnette]

Kind of a scam, should definitely be escorted out of Walmart...However...

If two people are in a place in their life that this is how they are "earning" money (and I do use the word earning pretty loosely here), they are most likely in need of that money.

You helped them. They needed it. Weren't honest about it, but they needed it.

Keep being the light.

You are very trusting and have a good heart. More than likely, the money went to drugs or alcohol.

If you want to help out people in need, donate to a reputable charity instead of handing cash to strangers in the street.

 

[LYSE]

Kind of a scam, should definitely be escorted out of Walmart...However...

If two people are in a place in their life that this is how they are "earning" money (and I do use the word earning pretty loosely here), they are most likely in need of that money.

You helped them. They needed it. Weren't honest about it, but they needed it.

Keep being the light.

Yeah need the money like I need the money, if they aren't blowing it on drugs then they are making a good living off of others while not paying taxes, some of these pro's make 100k a year...seriously

 

[LilyWDW]

I don't give money to people on the street. While there are a few that do need, too many of them are scammers who are simply trying to get a fix. I don't have a lot of extra money and i am not going to waste what little I have to give on those people. As such, I donate to reputable local charities that are there is actually help those who are in need.

 

[Disflyer226]

Never give money directly to people. Donate to charitable organizations who help people that need it. Too many "beggars" are scammers.

 

[kymom99]

I agree, please don't give to those people. I volunteer for a non profit assistance organization. There are lots of places that will help the needy. Those people are no better than the low life pair who kicked my sister's door in, in broad daylight and stole all her stuff, including my mom's wedding rings. When they were finally caught they admitted to at least 100 burglaries. They exploit people in one way or another.

 

[CouponGirl]

How kind that you wanted to help.

I used to live in an area with a lot of panhandlers and homeless. One way you could tell those that were really hungry versus those that just wanted money for other things is to offer to buy them a meal or a few groceries. The ones that needed food were happy to accept, those that just wanted money would refuse or try to get you just to give them money instead.

 

[missnic]

How do you know for sure that it was a 'scam' though? Maybe they are desperately in need and this was the easiest way to get money without begging. However, unless they specifically asked for money for food, whenever you give money to anyone you're kind of giving up your say in what they do with it. I think of it like giving money to Goodwill/etc. Your money might be going to help people, but there's a VERY good chance that its going to line the pockets of the CEO.

 

[dtkids]

How kind that you wanted to help.

I used to live in an area with a lot of panhandlers and homeless. One way you could tell those that were really hungry versus those that just wanted money for other things is to offer to buy them a meal or a few groceries. The ones that needed food were happy to accept, those that just wanted money would refuse or try to get you just to give them money instead.

My most meaningful encounters have been when I offered to buy a meal, then sit with them and have a conversation...maybe where they are now, look up services in their area for them, etc.

 

[MomToOne]

My brother, a true skeptic on all matters, admitted he got taken last Christmas.

He was grocery shopping, and a guy had a roasted chicken and a few other foods like mashed potatoes in a basket, with a little kid in tow. He asked my brother for a few dollars to help buy the food. My brother - taken in by the fact that the guy actually had a reasonable meal in the basket, and an easy mark since my mother was terminally ill at the time and he just wanted to feel like he could help someone in some way - gave him some money. But after doing so, he noticed the guy ditched the basket, then drove across the street to the liquor store.

Just chalk it up to experience. You tried to do good - there's no fault in that. The scammers will get what's due to them at some point. I'd rather get taken here and there than to become so cynical I can't hope for better out of humanity.

(But I do agree the money your couple was collecting was probably for drugs though - we have the same problem here - that's why I never give money to anyone begging in some way shape or form. I give to select charities instead. Live and learn.)

 

[jjjones325]

For folks in parking lots (Walmart usually), my wife always offers to go buy them a meal and bring it back to them. Only had one person ever take her up on it. So yeah, rest weren't asking for money to get a meal.

I've paid for gas before at the station with a story about trying to get back somewhere because parent was sick or something. I paid direclty for the gas and then watched them pump it, so at least that didn't go to drugs/alcohol.

 

[kymom99]

For folks in parking lots (Walmart usually), my wife always offers to go buy them a meal and bring it back to them. Only had one person ever take her up on it. So yeah, rest weren't asking for money to get a meal.

I've paid for gas before at the station with a story about trying to get back somewhere because parent was sick or something. I paid direclty for the gas and then watched them pump it, so at least that didn't go to drugs/alcohol.

I've seen people doing this. Eventually an employee came out and ran them off.

 

[Wubar]

I got scammed last night at a Walmart near WDW and I wanted to warn as many people as possible so it doesn't happen to you. I walked down the freezer aisle and I noticed a man put some change on the ground to count it and his pregnant wife standing at the freezer looking at food as though figuring out what they can afford. They looked unkempt and I assumed they were hungry, so without even thinking I handed her $20. They way she looked at me after she took it (as though she wasn't surprised at all, and even expecting it, maybe even an "I got you" smirk), made me second guess giving them money. My husband and I watched them without them knowing, and they did the same thing with they change on the ground every time someone walked down the aisle. The worst part about this is that it will deter people from wanting to help others in the future once they realize they've been scammed. I'm fine with it to though. God knows my heart and that's all that matters. I just wanted to make sure my fellow Disney fans are aware. I'm going to cross post to all my Disney groups, so I apologize if you see this more than once.

Punks. Good for you for wanting to help out. I, on the other hand, would've camped out in that aisle for as long as my wife needed to be in the store and loudly warned everybody walking down that aisle about the scamming game that was about to unfold.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Those weren't scammers, those were thieves targeting your sense of goodwill and decency, then using it to exploit you for your own hard-earned money.

UGH! If you're hard up and on the street, I will provide a meal, I will provide a hot coffee, I will provide gloves and scarves and winter gear, I will provide lotion and chapstick if I have it. I do not abide panhandlers! Many make more in a single day than most single-income families do in an entire week... Giving them money for alcohol to pass their time and numb their pain is just not right when our society can't even reach out and provide the mental health care that is necessary for them to have a job and a bed!

 

[NinaBella]

Never give people on the street money. Especially in Orlando. Venture outside of WDW and your in the Crack Cocaine capital of the country.

Before anyone thinks Im cold hearted. I work in NYC daily and see this crap all the time.
Its always for DRUGS. Heroin up here or Cocaine down south.

Not Crack, mostly meth.

 

[tink1970]

Not Crack, mostly meth

My first thought too...

Everyone is different about their money. I'm okay with giving meals (there is one guy who looks at what I bring and I swear has been ready to decline a time or two), water, money. If it's a scam, shame on them. If it's a truly needy person shame on me for ignoring a need. Since I usually can't differentiate then I err on the side of giving (if I have it-DD usually relieves me of most of my cash! ).

 

[AquamarineSteph]

You tried to do a good thing. Thank you for being compassionate toward people around you. We need more people who care about others.

And there's a lot of good advice in this thread about how to best help those in need. Always donate to a verified charity. They have resources available to them which can help maximize your donation, and if it's a non-profit, you may even be able to take a tax write off for your goodness.