----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Clarke" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "William H. Magill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 12:35 PM Subject: Re: [UC] Re: Scams In General - Welcome to my crisis
> Two indicators that I use, and I've learned them from repeated experiences, > are 1: if I am approached suddenly in a gas station or a parking lot. People > are more vulnerable in these places of transit because they are there a > brief time, don't know anyone and they can't deny that they have money. > And 2: the more elaborate the tale the less likely it is to be true. I > offered once to pay the tow company with a check in order to transport the > broken down vehicle, etc... I received the same response as Bill did to his > offer of a token. Now that I think of it there is one more indicator and > that is when the con-artist approaches you with "I'm not a bum; I'm a > college professor (btw who says a college professor can't be a bum?)" Or > also the quick, "Yes my name is _____ and my sister lives across the street > and I."...and he acts very familiar with you and the neighborhood. I find > the faster the transaction the more likely it is a fake. > I've seen a man/woman team who would have their car broke down, with > hood up and all on an exit ramp or on the side of a busy road. The second > time I saw them do this I drove by and watched the expressions on their > faces as they tried to flag down the next unwitting soul to drive by. > As a social worker, I've learned that crises are usually the result of > other long standing difficulties that will not yield to an 11th hour quick > fix. It is a temptation to fly into crisis mode with a client, but it is > usually ineffective and further supports the crisis-fix-crisis cycle. > > Joe C. > ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
