When reader Max was approached by a woman at Shaw Lido yesterday at about 6.30PM, she told him that she needed some money to buy food for her family, and so he gave $30 without hesitation thinking that he would be doing some good for the less fortunate.
However, not everything was as it seemed. He later discovered that the woman was going around telling the same story to several other unsuspecting passersby in order to fleece more money!
Max recalls: "I was approached by a lady asking for 18 bucks to buy food for her sick mum and siblings.
"She told me she is looking for jobs around town area but in vain and need to buy food for her family members.
"She told me if I can lend her 18 bucks of which I gave 20 bucks instead. She told me that she will return the money once she found a job and asked me for contact which I declined.
"She then asked if I can spare her another 8 bucks so that she can buy tomorrow's breakfast for her family so she can look for jobs early next morning.
"This time I gave another 10 bucks. She repeatedly told me that she will return the money.
"I said no need and she say she will repay the good deeds to other needy next time.
"5 minutes later I was back at the same building and saw her there approaching another passer-by."
Max went up to the passer-by after she was gone, and asked him how much money did he give her. The latter had given her 20 dollars.
"I asked him and she had given him the same storyline.... Bravo!!! 50 bucks earned in 5 minutes!" Max wrote. "I told him that I had also given 30 bucks earlier after hearing the same story. The passer-by was quite stunned."
For those of you who frequent Shaw Lido along Scotts Road, have you encountered this lady before?
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