Fraud Alert !   I'd report her to the station attendant so they could ask her to leave.  Glad you saw through her.  What was she driving; a Lamborghini ?

There but for the grace of God go I.  

Reminds me of the annonymous and Utah Questioners.

I don't actually see that where I live now Richie Alan Naggar, but did one time in San Francisco when Roger and I were there for a long Weekend Get-Away.  We had just eaten out, and I had a great seafood dinner that I could not finish.  So we got a To-Go Bag, along with plastic silverware.  I was going to put it in the frig in our room, as they had a microwave, too.  On the way back to our room, there was a homeless man looking for food in the trash.  Roger asked him if he wanted dinner, and we gave him my To-Go Bag with silverware.  I cannot tell you 'how great' I felt that we did that, and that Roger didn't think twice, didn't say anything to me, just asked him if he wanted it.  He did.  He got it.  Life was good . . .

Beggars can't be choosers. 

    I doubt this girl's Mom is in the hospital.   Sounds like a well-rehearsed con trying to hook you.  If you had given her the premium gas, she would have asked for something else.

I give them money....

I gave money ONCE on this scam.  Saw the guy a couple weeks later at it again.  I generally ignore them or say "sorry, only plastic no cash" or "sorry, I don't donate to anyone soliciting on the street."

I've heard others say "Would you like five dollars or a hundred?" after the beggar's response... "Sorry, beggars can't be choosers." and then walk away.  Bit of an "a hole" of a thing to do, but 99.999% of these people beg for a living (and a good tax free one at that) and they collect all the government handouts and spend the winter months in the Caribbean.

Give what you can and try not to let what they may use it for get in the way of the gift you are giving.

Some may use it for something you do not approve of, others will use it to keep their child alive, let God sort out the details.

Argh, she was one of the bad ones. I have had them come to me for gas and I put gas in their car. Never had that. I never forget a kindness and will pay it forward any chance I get.

Proceed with caution. Look around for accomplices.

I usually ignore them. In your case you couldn't. What you did makes sense to me

I always say no, sorry!  

Sounds like a fish story to me ... I do not have a blanket way of handling beggars.  I assess the situation and follow my heart ... and gut. 

A big giver to certain charities. Not a giver to beggars and panhandlers. Case by case for the young girl, but gas is gas in an emergency!

Unreal, wanted premium gas.  sorry.

Decline unwanted requests.

Try not to look at them,try not to ook them in the eye and when they do make it over, tell them i have no cash, only a credit card. Then to yell get a job or stop doing the drugs as i drive off. 

Richie Alan Naggar I used to get hit up all the time when I worked in D.C. After a while you become immune to it.

Like offering a homeless person a tuna sandwich and they say I don't like tuna.  When hit up at a traffic light I sometimes give.

I've been stopped by people with alcohol on their breath

I tell them I'm worse than they are & they don't know how to handle it.

Yes, gas is gas & you were trying to be generous.

BS story for sure. I have a soft spot for the hazard vest wearing homeless that stand on the same corners by my gym everyday. They smile and say thank you even with their situation which is usually caused by addiction.

I have not heard of such a scam.

I do just as you do Richie. I always choose kindness before judgment.

Had she said 'yes' to your willingness to help the story would be so much different.

When I'm "Hit up" I give if I can. If they need food, I very generous at the restaurant or grocery, Cash, not nearly as generous.

Two months ago parked at Westfield Countryside Mall. Met by a wheelchair equipped, self-identified, veteran who needed a little help. I had no cash and explained the same. When I returned the driver side door had been bashed, with paint missing, about 26 inches off the ground.

Those with an internal compass respond to a higher calling of compassion, while those without such compass set themselves up as judge.  It is my hope, at some point they too will have their choices judged with mercy.

What I do observe is a greater sense of entitlement from those who seek to benefit from the generosity and compassion of others. Be aware, such a entitlement mentality, which seems to result in blatant stupidity that defies logic, is observed in the bright-tights bicyclists with traffic backed up for 2 miles, to the obamaites who thought they saw a free ride but will see the balance due will be insufferable.

But still, I will choose kindness over judgment.

What do you think of the fellow citizen who rips into me for choosing kindness?

There are many phony street solicitors out there which just makes it harder for the real homeless who actually need money. I see the sames ones over and over that look clean and perfectly healthy walking up and down medium at traffice lights in Arlington VA. I ignore those. i would have looked at the gas gauge in your case, and if she had plenty of gas I would have told her to get the hell out of my sight, and that she was a disgrace to her mother.

Sell them a house??!! 

Good morning Richie. I would most likely give them something, if I have been taken, so be it.

 Life will repay.

Sounds lke a con to me, Richie. When people are in need I like to be generous but it's usually not people asking me, especially for premium gas!

Richie Alan Naggar i remember similar experience when i was in San Diego..

I will get them food or drink. No cash. Same as you, Richie Alan Naggar I would offer a few gallons of gas.  

Richie,

For some reason, they stay away from the two of us...we have an invisible shield.  There are some old handicapped vets who used to hang out near the Farmer's Market, I used to give the guy all the change I had and a couple of dollars...He is not here anymore.  A

I felt bad the other day when someone was sitting at the side of the road with his sign.  I was going to go back and give him some money.  I mentioned it to an employee of the store I stopped at.  He said this man just changed corners.  He maked his living doing this every day and has no plans of working.  I didn't go back and give him money. 

It depends who is asking..... I've given but not when I feel taken as you were.

I was in Utah this early fall and was hit up by a guy...The car was newer than mine...I didn't believe him

There's one in La Jolla with a small camper uses his 3 year old daughter. Horribly terrible all around 

I have not encountered the gas incident yet but took a women's safety class (not self-defense) many years ago and two things have stayed in my mind...

1. If an panhandler asks you for money, tell them you don't carry cash and they will leave. When they ask a woman for money, they know you will open your purse to dig out your wallet and either snatch it or catch you off guard while you are distracted. So I always follow that advice.

2.  If the person is asking for money to buy a meal, (and this applies to men, too) instead of giving them cash (which they may use for drugs or alcohol) have them meet you at the nearest eating place (McD's or such) and pay for their meal yourself.

If you are not comfortable doing that, we were told to buy some gift certificates to a local fast food place and give one to the person so they actually used it for food.

Thankfully I have never been approached yet but have never fogotten these warnings.

If I needed to get to the hospital to see my mom I'd happily take enough regular gas to go home and get my wallet.  I'd also ask you for your work address to send you a check and thank you note. I don't think her need was legit

I had a lady in Walgreens hit me up for money to pay on her prepaid phone saying her daughter was sick and she needed to stay in touch with her. I just don't believe their stories because of situations like you encountered.

If I were out of gas and needed to get to the hospital, I would put orange juice in my car, if it would get me there.   Sounds like a scam to me!

What? I can't beleive it. no comments 

Once in while I give them a buck.

I hate to say this but most panhandlers are mentally ill or have a substance abuse problem,.

May be he wants to trade cars with you. 

If it is a homeless sitting outside I hand him enough $ for food w/o begging....

It is easy to become homeless I know several became homeless before getting a realtor license.