Hi, I am an early twenties woman just moved to London almost a month ago and was walking home after having picked up a parcel from my local Tesco. I live in the Bethnal Green/Cambridge Heath area, so not the best but I don’t think it’s the worst either(?).
Anyways, a homeless person just approached me and for some reason I didn’t walk away like I would usually do, as I was a bit spaced out. He asked me if I could come close by to help pay for his monthly shelter at the church which would have ended up being like 17 gbp.
I considered it, especially knowing there are homeless shelters in the area (and he was following me so it was a bit awkward), but told me it’s cash and I don’t do cash and was not going to follow a random person to somewhere unknown even though he said it was “just around the corner” so I finally told him off and he simply left, complaining about how he is used to being ignored.
I have very mixed feelings about the encounter and wish it didn’t happen. Checked the map, there does seem to be a shelter in the direction he pointed me towards but it was not “just around the corner” as he put it.
This happened on a1209, between the McDonald’s and Bethnal Green tube station.
Did I just dodge a huge bullet? I feel bad - I wish I could help people in need but I feel like I would have risked too much for no reason. The entire encounter felt off somehow. I guess I’m just shocked at the possibility of someone literally picking me off the street and trying to trick me so he could hurt me, and looking believable. I must have been very lucky in my life to have never felt this, and I hate having to become cold/heartless/etc to make sure I stay safe.
Thanks for reading, I just needed to tell this to someone I guess.
Don’t feel bad, you were in a vulnerable position and even if it was a genuine request you shouldn’t feel pressured to place yourself in danger.
If you really want to help the homeless, or ease your conscience, donate to Shelter. At least there you know the money won’t be going towards someone’s drug habit.
What makes me feel so bad is feeling like I was singled out and persuaded. It was also really weird that he seemed to try to convince me to go with him - he could have asked for the money itself, right? I didn’t think to ask if he’d just accept the sum without having me go with him. If he’d refused, that would have been a clear red flag that he was trying to get me to some shady spot and hurt me.
But then again, if I were in that position, I could imagine asking people to come with me to do the payment for them so they see that I’m not swindling them and taking the money to buy drugs instead.
😅
It felt wrong to you and you backed out. It’s good to trust your instincts when they tell you you might be at risk. I think you did the only sensible thing you could.
I wouldn’t worry about that too much, if it was a scam, they will likely try it on with dozens of people (you have to throw a lot of hooks into the water to find someone that’ll bite), or if it wasn’t, then you look kind (possibly rich and generous), which is no bad thing.