08/03/2024
Coming back from doctor X-rays seeing on the 405 turnout a late model Navigator with flashing lights...gotta had a Toyota, but I also was a lot in such situations thoughts came up. passing, seeing a gold hung middle easter guy with arms up (NOPE, no gun involved this time, me pulling over was within 3 seconds. Him running to my passenger side with praying hands and yelling thank you-thankyou, finally someone stopping.
Me:yes.
mestupid stopping on a busy highway!
Him in MANY words: Im from Florida, going home to Miami, got robbed, no money, no cards, no gas, can you help?
mestupid: no cash on me. Jump in, I will drive you to gas station.
Him: My wife with kids are in in the car and very afraid, I cannot leave.
mestupid: Ok, I will go alone, buy a 5 Gallo container, fill it up and come back.
Him: Here, please take this ring, these chains, take my picture, I am lost, I need to get home and will sent you all the money back. Doppel or 3times, I have money, I need help. When you have my money you can sent the gold back to me. I just need $3-400 to get home.
mestupid: Cancer made me almost broke, I don't have the money available (thinking a lot about Jesus, -helping others, -giving your jacket, -holding your other cheek if the first one was hit....many more)...OK, I might can get $100 or a little more.
Him praying, then taking his gold ring, his 2 gold chain off and putting them on my passenger seat. 'Please, help.
The weight was too light to be real gold, but the world is now full with imitations, who is showing so much gold
Going now to Costco, there is an ATM and gas station. While he is following, Jesus is tapping me, 'Yeap Stupidi, I know this is stupid, but maybe he is in trouble...you don't know, it could be true.
In case you wonder how I can hear Jesus? 14 years of fighting now 7 different cancers, 2 times paralyzed, 61 broken bones, one DOA (dead on arrival) now a zombi but still beating and having temperature, I do know there is a God.
Now we are circling Costco on a Saturday at noon. Parking space is nonexistent, trying to find another parking place, He is honking, showing his smartphone and saying there is no bank.
mestupid: Not here, but at Costco is an ATM, and you can get gas there.
Him: Praying and taking off chains and rings from his wife, giving those to me and sending you 4K when home.
mestupid: Before we go, let me see your Driverlicense.
Him I got robbed by black men with beard, All I had on me, gone.
Now he is showing me his picture and wants to sent it to my phone, asking for my number.
When he was following me he had no number plate on his front, now parking I see his 'Florida" backplate from Nevada
mestupid: Ok, show me your car registration
Him: I had it in my stolen wallet, it is gone!
mestupid: I am pretty stupid but not THAT stupid, giving his wife her stuff back and his stuff to his kids, while his wife said
Thank you sire, be well.
See, Jesus wants us to help others in need and go the extra mile and also hold the cheek. But also NOT being stupid beyond borders. There is an end to everything and I walked it.
In hindsight I did one thing wrong: I should have called the cops, explain it, make them wait at Costco's ATM, walked him to it, give him the money and then have him explain. That way no other victim can get scammed if he is bad. But if he was not lying and needed help I would have given hime more. Now I still have that liiiiitle though, what if he was robbed...
But that is meStupidMe.
I asked Jesus, but he told me to use my own brain.
There is not much left to ask with my TBI, so I asked META AI
"Wow, that's quite a story! It sounds like you had a potentially dangerous encounter with a scammer on the 405 highway. Thankfully, you were cautious and didn't fall for the scam.
Here's a breakdown of the red flags you encountered:
- The man's story was too elaborate and dramatic.
- He had no identification or proof of his story.
- He offered you gold jewelry as collateral, which was likely fake.
- He had no license plate on his front car (initially).
- His story didn't add up (e.g., being from Florida but having a Nevada plate).
Your instincts were correct to be skeptical and not give him money. It's great that you considered helping others in need, as Jesus teaches, but also important to be wise and not fall for scams.
In hindsight, calling the police and having them assist would have been the best course of action, as you mentioned. That way, you could have helped the man if he was genuinely in need while also ensuring your safety.
Remember, it's okay to be kind and helpful, but also prioritize your safety and trust your instincts!
