WWYD... Good Samaritan?

[Andtototoo]

I would never have stopped, especially with them being on an exit ramp right there. It would have taken no time to konk you over the head, rob you or steal your car or worse and with people going by so fast, there would be little chance of help.

When I've seen people broken down on the road, I call the non-emergency number and let them know.

The gas money scam has been around for as long as there have been automobiles. Before that, I'm sure scam artists knocked on doors and asked for free hay for their horses.

 

[manning]

My friend goes to a mall in northern Indiana. He was telling me about a girl approaching him with the story of just burying her father and doesn't have money to get back to new York. She hit on him twice three months apart.

He asked her one question, "how many fathers do you have?"

 

[waddup]

I would have stopped initially to see what the problem was, and then called the police to explain the situation as told to me. They are a little more experienced in these things than most of us here and can handle it.

 

[luvsJack]

It's summer...in Kentucky. Since it's 80+ degrees here in CT, I'm assuming it's dang hot down there. If a car has no gas, it's not running. If it's not running, there's no AC. But his wife and baby were IN the car? I don't buy that. They'd be out of the car, off the side of the road in any shade they could find. I would be. And/or we'd be WALKING to get to a cool place to wait, and use our cell phone to call 911 (which works even if no service).

Probably a scam.

I just wondered about a child actually being there, because I know that I have seen those asking for money because they "broke down on the way to xxxxxx" and many times they do have their children with them. Its been running 95-100 or more here but I still see it sometimes. Regardless of whether the parents are running a scam or not, I can't help but wish I could do something to make it better for the kids.

If the choice is to sit IN the car or get out and sit IN the sun, though, I can understand staying in the truck with the door open to get some air.

If the phone was dead or didn't work, they wouldn't be able to call 911.

I realize that its likely that it was a scam, but there are many other scenarios that I just think folks should consider rather than assuming something like that is a scam. Dh drives a 18-wheeler, and believe me if there is a scam to be run, its been done at a truckstop. He has heard it all!! But, there are times when he can still have a soft heart because he stops to think "but what if it is for real".

 

[khertz]

I wouldn't have stopped at all, but then I'm a 27 year old female who would more than likely either be driving alone or just with my toddler in the car. Sometimes I notice the State Police non-emergency number signs on the highway, so if it was fresh in my mind from seeing a sign, I would probably call to report someone parked on the offramp. No matter what the circumstance, that's not really a safe place for a car to be stopped.

From the information you have posted, sounds like it was probably a scam anyway so don't feel too bad for not being able to help. Not calling for help himself could be easily explained if his battery was dead or something, but being on the northbound highway while claiming he was trying to get south? Reeks of scam! I kind of wish you would have thought to ask him...That would have been an interesting answer to hear!

My friend goes to a mall in northern Indiana. He was telling me about a girl approaching him with the story of just burying her father and doesn't have money to get back to new York. She hit on him twice three months apart.

He asked her one question, "how many fathers do you have?"

 

[ChipnDalebowl]

I don't carry gas in my car like that, and I don't carry cash on hand either, so I would've been no help to the guy. If I did stop, I'd offer to make a phone call for him so maybe a towing service could get him some gas.

I'd always hope if I was ever stranded for whatever reason, someone would help me if it was obvious there was something wrong.

 

[Coconut36]

I voted that I would not have stopped. I would have stopped at a safe location and found a non emergency police number for the area and let them know someone needed help. I don't think I would call 911 unless the guy was trying to flag people down in the middle of the highway. I guess it would depend on how desperate he appeared to be as to who I called, but no way am I stopping my car when I have no way of knowing who that person could turn out to be.

This. I have my kids with me most of the time too and I don't feel safe pulling over with them with me. I would have no issue offering to call help for them and if I had unopened water or something I might pass that on. I probably wouldn't give money/cash and I have been hit up with very very similar stories (sisters, brothers, friends, nephew/niece, child..etc is stuck with them) and that they need gas or repairs and can I help. It's most commonly at gas stations (they have a "captive" audience while you pump). In general I decline and leave it be but one night one of them was very aggressive and abusive so I went in and let the location know what was going (it was night time as well). As soon as an employee headed to them their "broken" car with no gas sped out of there at full speed. It soured my view that people with these stories are honest although I know it can happen and that is why I think offering to call Highway Patrol, DPS or non emergency police would be the best option as they can offer them help if they are on the up and up.

 

[FireDancer]

I wouldn't have stopped. Unfortunately there are a lot of scammers out there and gas scams are pretty common.

I had a guy come up to me at a gas station here in Cleveland talking about how he was up here for a job interview from Columbus and just needed enough gas to get home because his wallet and phone were stolen.

I thought is sounded fishy so I did a little digging. I looked at his car and asked if he lived in Columbus. He said yes. I asked if he ever lived in Cleveland. He said no. I asked if the car is his in his name. He said yes. I then asked if the car is in his name and he has never lived in Cleveland why does he have Cuyahoga county tags on his plates instead of Franklin, Delaware, or Fairfield country and he just left.

Funny thing is I saw the exact same guy at the exact same station multiple times trying the same scam.

It is unfortunate but I just don't trust that people run out of gas and have no cash or credit cards on them but then again since every car I have ever had has a working gas gage I think you have to be a complete moron to run out of gas anyway.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I wouldn't have stopped. I would just google the non emergency number for the police and told them that there was someone on the side of the road flagging people down

In my car I also have the option of having my GPS tell me where I am (great feature if this were to happen while on a road trip so I could give the location easily) and finding the nearest police station to call

 

[luvsJack]

I wouldn't have stopped. Unfortunately there are a lot of scammers out there and gas scams are pretty common.

I had a guy come up to me at a gas station here in Cleveland talking about how he was up here for a job interview from Columbus and just needed enough gas to get home because his wallet and phone were stolen.

I thought is sounded fishy so I did a little digging. I looked at his car and asked if he lived in Columbus. He said yes. I asked if he ever lived in Cleveland. He said no. I asked if the car is his in his name. He said yes. I then asked if the car is in his name and he has never lived in Cleveland why does he have Cuyahoga county tags on his plates instead of Franklin, Delaware, or Fairfield country and he just left.

Funny thing is I saw the exact same guy at the exact same station multiple times trying the same scam.

It is unfortunate but I just don't trust that people run out of gas and have no cash or credit cards on them but then again since every car I have ever had has a working gas gage I think you have to be a complete moron to run out of gas anyway.

I used to think that too! But right now, it could be me you see on the side of the road! My gas needle has been having some kind of issues and it will show half a tank when I turn it off and the next time I crank it the little light is on. And as I am driving to the station, it will suddenly "grow" gas and be back up to half a tank! I just keep it above half a tank.






OP, I just wanted to say, please don't think that I was ever insinuating that you did the wrong thing. I would have continued driving and called from somewhere else but I am sure that there have been times I have passed by and not done a thing about it.

You were nice to stop at all and sounds like you would have given him some money had you had any with you. At least you know there wasn't a medical emergency or something.

 

[marmalade]

Just saw this article and thought about this thread.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...d=maing-grid7|main5|dl6|sec1_lnk3&pLid=182896

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I would have called the non-emergency number for police help for him. I've stopped on the side of the road for people, but I am very careful.

 

[kamik86]

It is unfortunate but I just don't trust that people run out of gas and have no cash or credit cards on them but then again since every car I have ever had has a working gas gage I think you have to be a complete moron to run out of gas anyway.

To be honest my Dad had a truck for two years where the gas gauge didn't work. It was the only thing wrong with the truck and it was really expensive to fix, so he would just fill the tank and he knew from before it broke about how far he could go on 3/4 of a tank. So he would reset the trip odometer when he filled it and when it got close to the 3/4 of a tank limit fill it completely again. In two years he never ran out of gas. Then the truck had other problems so he traded it in.

However although my story and one above say its possible to have a broken gauge I have never known someone to legitimately run out of gas!


I did however have someone stop and help me once that I was grateful for. DH and I were driving back home from a visit to my parents and the alternator died (didn't know that was the issue at the time) now since the battery was still charged that only made a light come on until we were almost home when the battery ran out. At the red light of a busy intersection. A nice man helped DH push the car into the mall (right on the intersection we were stopped at) so that we weren't sitting in the middle of traffic while AAA came to tow us. I was really grateful for that man.

 

[ols386]

I used to think that too! But right now, it could be me you see on the side of the road! My gas needle has been having some kind of issues and it will show half a tank when I turn it off and the next time I crank it the little light is on. And as I am driving to the station, it will suddenly "grow" gas and be back up to half a tank! I just keep it above half a tank.

OP, I just wanted to say, please don't think that I was ever insinuating that you did the wrong thing. I would have continued driving and called from somewhere else but I am sure that there have been times I have passed by and not done a thing about it.

You were nice to stop at all and sounds like you would have given him some money had you had any with you. At least you know there wasn't a medical emergency or something.

Same here. My gas gauge went hay-wire not too long ago, and I've since had it repaired.

Having said that, I would not stop in a situation like that. I'd be glad to call the non-emergency 911 number and request help for that person.

 

[sam_gordon]

OP, I just wanted to say, please don't think that I was ever insinuating that you did the wrong thing. I would have continued driving and called from somewhere else but I am sure that there have been times I have passed by and not done a thing about it.

Never thought you were. I was comfortable with my reactions (I was alone, he approached from my passenger side (couldn't reach me)).

When I stopped, I was thinking he was going to ask for help making a call (I couldn't see a cell before he told his story), which I would have been happy to do. I even would have given him a dollar or two.

As far as running out of gas... my gas gauge recently started acting up. Once it gets below 1/8 of a tank (but before the light goes on), the gauge starts RISING, generally all the way up to 'Full'. As mentioned, I have a good idea of how much I get out of a tank of gas, but I don't always fill it up. Makes life interesting.

I did run out of gas in a company car about 15 years ago. I was with a coworker, I left him in the car and walked down the road (no gas station in sight) to ask for gas. It was 5pm on a Friday and the businesses were all closed. I go back to the intersection and the van is gone!

Turns out the coworker waited a couple minutes, started the van, and went to the next exit before running out again. Then *HE* had to find gas, then come get me. This was before cell phones, and there were no pay phones where I was... I had no way of contacting ANYONE.

 

[Coconut36]

It is unfortunate but I just don't trust that people run out of gas and have no cash or credit cards on them but then again since every car I have ever had has a working gas gage I think you have to be a complete moron to run out of gas anyway.

Unless you are unfortunate enough to have one with issues. Some genius designed the gas gauge in my Alero (Oldsmobile) with a peg at the top of it. Apparently when the battery starts to die the gauges can go wonky and will spin around (another lovely feature!). Many years back we had the spinning gauges and the gas gauge is now stuck above the stupid peg. It will light up and "bong" when it gets low but unfortunately without any visual clue you might get a light/bong and run out before you can get to a gas station. We have asked mechanics about fixing it (magnet didn't work) and most want a small fortune to open up the front (where the speedometer, gas..etc is) and fix it. It's now 13 years old and we are just not willing to pay anything more than we have to in it. Unfortunately DH has been stranded but he always has something on him to pay for gas and just hoofs it to the nearest gas station (or calls for help).

Granted I absolutely know that is an exception not a rule it can happen as a funky gas gauge on an otherwise operable and running car is going to be a low priority in regards to getting it fixed.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I wouldn't have stopped...I'm not a mean or uncaring person, I am just to the point I don't really trust strangers like that.

I didn't really notice it in the original post, went right over my head the part about the cell phone, whoever pointed it out, good catch! Definitely a red flag!!

 

[bgirldeb]

Depending on which state I was in I would try to call the highway patrol number if they have one, such as mentioned in the below webpage.

http://www.ou.edu/oupd/highway-cell.htm

 

[khertz]

To be honest my Dad had a truck for two years where the gas gauge didn't work. It was the only thing wrong with the truck and it was really expensive to fix, so he would just fill the tank and he knew from before it broke about how far he could go on 3/4 of a tank. So he would reset the trip odometer when he filled it and when it got close to the 3/4 of a tank limit fill it completely again. In two years he never ran out of gas. Then the truck had other problems so he traded it in.

My DH did the same thing. He drove that truck for almost 5 years, even on long drives between college and home, and never once ran out of gas.

 

[leebee]

Unless you are unfortunate enough to have one with issues. Some genius designed the gas gauge in my Alero (Oldsmobile) with a peg at the top of it. Apparently when the battery starts to die the gauges can go wonky and will spin around (another lovely feature!).

I learned the hard way this summer that the spinning gauges are a classic symptom of a dead battery... it's not just your car!

OP, I wouldn't have stopped but would have called it in. Hard to believe a guy with a wife and kid would take a long distance trip without cash for gas, even to the point of being willing to sell his belongings to "raise" the money. BTW, don't you think most folks would say, "No, no, I don't want/need your watch, but here's $5" if they were inclined to actually give away the cash? It's a good scam until the cops stop him. I also agree- no way in this heat would anyone sit in a vehicle without air conditioning for any period of time!

We have 2 scammers in downtown Bangor. One is a guy who needs money to get a bus ticket home; he's just a little short. He's actually pretty clean-cut and as we are a college town area, it's an easy story to believe. He's hit me 4 times. Now I just smile and ask him, "What- didn't you learn the cost the LAST time you didn't have enough?" He always smiles sheepishly and walks away. The other is a woman with a medical issue. Sometimes she's just been released from emergency due to a dislocated shoulder and needs $5 for pain meds, sometimes her kid has just been diagnosed with strep and she needs the $5 for the copay on the meds, etc. ("I promise- you can drive me up to the drug store and watch me go in!") When I ask her how her last medical emergency resolved, she just swears at me, turns on her heel, and leaves.

When we lived in Syracuse and San Francisco, homeless "beggars" were common. DH always offered to buy a sandwich/meal for them rather than give them money. Some took him up on it. Others walked away. One guy in Syracuse actually said no, he'd rather have the cash, it was a danged hot day and he really wanted a beer! (DH took him into a local bar- college town- and had a draft with him. they struck up an interesting conversation... not sure if it was true or not, but DH had a good afternoon!)