“Dear PoPville,
I encountered the scammers you’ve previously posted about on 14th between P and Church Streets. They took me by surprise by timidly saying ‘excuse me, can I ask you a question,’ which I figured would lead to asking directions or for a restaurant recommendation so I said sure. Instead they launched into the same backstory about having a car towed that others have experienced and rapidly overwhelmed me with info before asking for $45.
While asking for the money they kept trying to hand me a couple of phones as ‘collateral’ and I kept declining. At one point the man said he didn’t want me to question their integrity so they insisted I take collateral and help.
I told them I didn’t have any way to help, saying I don’t have modes of electronic transfer like venmo, and then the woman started crying.
They kept asking if there was truly no way I could help, and I felt so intensely uncomfortable that I eventually gave them a $20 bill I had on me. They said there was an atm closeby and I could take out the rest of the money they wanted, which I declined because that’s such a huge red flag and I really wanted to get away from the situation at this point.
I felt pretty upset about the situation and a friend sent me the previous articles about them, so just want to add to the noise if it helps someone else avoid the same situation.”