Thursday, April 27, 2006

Homeless/Drifter Scam?

Since I've moved, I primarily use this little loop of an interstate to get myself from different locations in town. What's so f---ing interesting about that, you say? Well, I've begun to notice a "rise" in the amount of drifters and homeless activity around the on-ramps of the interstates and their particular movites to 'get' things, such as food, money, or a ride.

What is so damn wierd about this is the fact that every drifter/homeless folk I've noticed hold the very same characteristic as the next one I see:

1) Clean - Meaning, I know what the weather was like a couple days ago, and you look rather clean and well appeared, clothing included.

2) Always have a backpack that appears to be COMPLETELY empty - it's always lying there on the ground or next to a pole sagging over or blowing in the wind.

3) A perfectly square piece of cardboard cut with scissors, spray-painted with silver paint and carrying the almost exact same message, written with a black Sharpie: "Looking for work, food, money or donation. Anything you can spare. God bless!"

I'm not about to stereotype anyone who may fit this description, all I'm saying is sh-t just isn't adding up as far as who they are appearing to be. The commonalities, such as the signs always having those characteristics, really makes me second guess their vailidity. I mean, if you're homeless, where the f--- did you get the materials to make that pretty lookin' sign? I know Sharpies are like $1.00 if not more; shit, that's a quick meal off the dollar menu at Burger King. At no point am I sold on the despairity of their situation; I'd expect to see a jagged piece of board or paper with a darkly scribbled message with pens they stole from a gas station.

I'm thinking I should do this trick next time I need a quick 50 bones, because I've seen some healthy donations get passed out of car windows by people.

...I'm in the wrong profession for sure.

Case in point, though: dumb con-artists.

2 comments:

Brendan said...

Here's a test to see if they are truly homeless... I'll pay one 20 bucks and a sandwich to carry around a sign for a month that says: "Please help Brendan pay off his student loans before you think of me because once he's paid off he said he'd buy me another sandwich. God Bless! www.brendansstudentloans.com"

If they refuse we know they are full of BS in that they don't care about a good meal and are just in it for the money. (booze?)

It's just so brilliant it might work!

doschman said...

I'm likin' that idea dude ;-)