Scam artist in QV

**ames1411** · 05-15-2012, 02:50 AM

A couple of weeks ago a man approached us as we were walking home from dinner and asked for money. He said he was a fireman in Roxborough and was having car trouble a few blocks away. He told us he had called AAA but needed $35 to pay them. He even rattled off a badge number and had a pretty good story. Regrettably we gave him some money because he seemed believable enough. Surprise surprise, we saw him hitting up another girl just this morning on our way to work. The man is white, heavyset, and in his 40's. He was clean shaven and wearing a tshirt, shorts, and a baseball cap. We are going to call the police if we see him again in the neighborhood so DON"T GIVE HIM MONEY!

**JoeBaker** · 05-15-2012, 04:39 AM

Tell him you want your money back.

I saw the skinny redhead (she's at Columbus and Washington a lot) in Wawa the other night around 3 AM. She had a large roll of dough on her. Definitely don't give her money.

**loveisnoise** · 05-15-2012, 05:51 AM

Thanks for the info-check the south philly threads. There was a guy pulling the exact same thing at the ACME on passyunk. Some one got his photo and posted it.

Unfortunately, there's not much the police can do from a legal standpoint. Anyone can ask you for money, and you have the right to say yes or no. I know it sounds rough, but under our city no one really has any legal right to prosecute the guy. It is still good to let people know so that they are hoodwinked by idiots like this.

Originally Posted by ames1411

A couple of weeks ago a man approached us as we were walking home from dinner and asked for money. He said he was a fireman in Roxborough and was having car trouble a few blocks away. He told us he had called AAA but needed $35 to pay them. He even rattled off a badge number and had a pretty good story. Regrettably we gave him some money because he seemed believable enough. Surprise surprise, we saw him hitting up another girl just this morning on our way to work. The man is white, heavyset, and in his 40's. He was clean shaven and wearing a tshirt, shorts, and a baseball cap. We are going to call the police if we see him again in the neighborhood so DON"T GIVE HIM MONEY!

**Sycamore** · 05-15-2012, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by loveisnoise

Thanks for the info-check the south philly threads. There was a guy pulling the exact same thing at the ACME on passyunk. Some one got his photo and posted it.

Unfortunately, there's not much the police can do from a legal standpoint. Anyone can ask you for money, and you have the right to say yes or no. I know it sounds rough, but under our city no one really has any legal right to prosecute the guy. It is still good to let people know so that they are hoodwinked by idiots like this.

Actually, it's theft by deception.

Panhandlers are charged with it elsewhere--also those collecting fake donations, etc.

**Kobe&Sparky** · 05-15-2012, 02:26 PM

The skinny woman who panhandles on Columbus Blvd lives somewhere on Moore in S. Philly. I see her walking west on Moore near 4th street. She also goes to Manny and Phil's at that intersection...not to mention she has met her drug dealer on my block (1700 S. Orianna Street) on multiple occasions. Someone told me her name is MaryEllen and when you see her hair color change, its because she's wanted by the cops.

**thegreattwizz** · 05-15-2012, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Kobe&Sparky

The skinny woman who panhandles on Columbus Blvd lives somewhere on Moore in S. Philly. I see her walking west on Moore near 4th street. She also goes to Manny and Phil's at that intersection...not to mention she has met her drug dealer on my block (1700 S. Orianna Street) on multiple occasions. Someone told me her name is MaryEllen and when you see her hair color change, its because she's wanted by the cops.

So I should give her a bag of soap shavings?

**gideon** · 05-15-2012, 05:16 PM

anytime somebody gives me that story, i say "well, I have my AAA card on me. where's your car? maybe we can ask if we can extend my coverage." zip... gone.

**hkp** · 05-15-2012, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Kobe&Sparky

The skinny woman who panhandles on Columbus Blvd lives somewhere on Moore in S. Philly. I see her walking west on Moore near 4th street. She also goes to Manny and Phil's at that intersection...not to mention she has met her drug dealer on my block (1700 S. Orianna Street) on multiple occasions. Someone told me her name is MaryEllen and when you see her hair color change, its because she's wanted by the cops.

Is she the one who mainly hangs out with that jerkoff holding a sign saying, "We're stranded and hungry," by the 95N onramp? Or is she the nasty one who frequents the strip mall entrance by Chic Filet? I want to strangle the idiot drivers who stop while there is a green light to give them money. More than once I've missed the green for the left turn for 95 because some dope slammed on his brakes to hand those tools money. And then they have the nerve to hit up all the people who ended up missing the light because of them. They need to be pushed off by the cops just like the panhandlers on Vine Street.

For the OP, the scumbag has been doing a variation of this schtick for years. I confronted him on South St and he basically ran away. He's a POS through and through.

**qweezyq** · 05-16-2012, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Kobe&Sparky

The skinny woman who panhandles on Columbus Blvd lives somewhere on Moore in S. Philly. I see her walking west on Moore near 4th street. She also goes to Manny and Phil's at that intersection...not to mention she has met her drug dealer on my block (1700 S. Orianna Street) on multiple occasions. Someone told me her name is MaryEllen and when you see her hair color change, its because she's wanted by the cops.

Her husband (I think) panhandles at the same corner with a sign saying he wants to work. We asked him what work he can do and he said he was an out of work painter. We gave him our number for some small paint jobs around the house and of course he never called. I told my wife he is probably making more than the 10-15 bucks/hr we would pay him so why would he call.

**brock landers** · 05-16-2012, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by hkp

I want to strangle the idiot drivers who stop while there is a green light to give them money. More than once I've missed the green for the left turn for 95 because some dope slammed on his brakes to hand those tools money. And then they have the nerve to hit up all the people who ended up missing the light because of them. They need to be pushed off by the cops just like the panhandlers on Vine Street.

Agreed. Amen to that. It is getting ridiculous. It takes way too long all because some naive idiot decided to help feed their drug addiction.

**hubba1** · 05-16-2012, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by hkp

Is she the one who mainly hangs out with that jerkoff holding a sign saying, "We're stranded and hungry," by the 95N onramp? Or is she the nasty one who frequents the strip mall entrance by Chic Filet? I want to strangle the idiot drivers who stop while there is a green light to give them money. More than once I've missed the green for the left turn for 95 because some dope slammed on his brakes to hand those tools money. And then they have the nerve to hit up all the people who ended up missing the light because of them. They need to be pushed off by the cops just like the panhandlers on Vine Street.

For the OP, the scumbag has been doing a variation of this schtick for years. I confronted him on South St and he basically ran away. He's a POS through and through.

No, this woman is on the railroad track on Columbus, usually around Washington.. she hangs on Washington, and her husband does Delaware ave...both have signs claiming to be parents or out of work and looking... losing my home... it changes occasionally.

**ndebergerac** · 05-16-2012, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by hubba1

No, this woman is on the railroad track on Columbus, usually around Washington.. she hangs on Washington, and her husband does Delaware ave...both have signs claiming to be parents or out of work and looking... losing my home... it changes occasionally.

Ah yes, I see her every time I go through that intersection. To be honest though, I've never noticed anyone give her money.

**qweezyq** · 05-17-2012, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by ndebergerac

Ah yes, I see her every time I go through that intersection. To be honest though, I've never noticed anyone give her money.

They definitely get a good amount of money. especially when the guys foot was in a boot cast thingy. I have also seen people drop off full bags of groceries.

**RealityCheck** · 05-17-2012, 01:38 PM

This guy tried to hit me up also. Same story about needing a $35 deposit to get a locksmith to open his door. He also said he owned CJ & Ecks bar in Manyunk and said something to the effect of he would return the favor. His story sounded legit at first so I considered giving him some cash, but then though better of it. Sorry to hear he ripped you off, but nice to know my instincts were correct. If I see this dude walking around again ill be sure to tell him to beat it.

From what I remember he is a White male around 6' tall, 220 lbs and was wearing jean shorts and a black baseball cap.

**Momma Cass** · 05-17-2012, 04:22 PM

it's so nice to hear spring in here and the scammers have made their way home for the summer.....

**palvar** · 05-17-2012, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by RealityCheck

This guy tried to hit me up also. Same story about needing a $35 deposit to get a locksmith to open his door. He also said he owned CJ & Ecks bar in Manyunk and said something to the effect of he would return the favor. His story sounded legit at first so I considered giving him some cash, but then though better of it.

That is definitely the same guy as was down at the Acme.

**JoeBaker** · 05-18-2012, 03:14 AM

Originally Posted by hubba1

No, this woman is on the railroad track on Columbus, usually around Washington.. she hangs on Washington, and her husband does Delaware ave...both have signs claiming to be parents or out of work and looking... losing my home... it changes occasionally.

I see her hanging around the guy that wears the green windbreaker that says "Special Forces" on the back. That cracks me the hell up every time I see it.

**kraymehr** · 06-26-2012, 09:56 AM

There's another guy, (white, ~5"8, maybe 175, usually wearing a baseball cap and with a bike, in his late 20's - mid 30's) who has been hitting up homes around Palumbo Park asking for donations to fund palumbo sporting events, pay for referees, expand the childrens events, and keep the park open... He promises that you'll get a mailer with a tax deduction form / coupons / movie vouchers / etc... He'll offer a phone number, and also has a pretty good story; however, its all fake.

He's been around the neighborhood for the past 2 months or so...