A young man in parking lot asking for money, what would you do?

You thought fast and did the right thing. The fact that he walked away told the whole story. Good for you.

"Pickup and gas can were up the road?" Red Flag right there-he thought you'd fall for it.

You did the right thing. Who knows-he could have had someone else sitting in his pickup truck, slouched down in his seat. Go there, and all bets would have been off.

I would have said: "Sorry, don't have any", gotten into my car, dialed 911 and given a full description of the guy.

I would say sorry, don't have any money and keep walking. Too many of these people are career beggars.

I once came out of a building downtown, and a middle-aged woman stopped me by the door and started giving me a sob story about an emergency. She needed some money right away for a cab to get to her sick mother at the hospital. I didn't believe her and kept walking. About a week later, the same woman stopped me again, same place, same story. I guess she tried this with so many people she didn't realize she had already tried it with me.

You can't be too careful these days - sounds like you did the right thing. I've had it happen to me a few times - Some I have helped and one similar to your situation wanted me to follow him to the gas station - after we got there he tried to tell me he left his drivers license at home in his wallet - I got out of ther fast!! and I did not get him any gas:D

One lady was in a Kroger parking lot - she was crying and told me her story - all I had was $6 - the Lord laid it on my heart to give it to her - I did and also invited her to church. A couple days later I went to 7-eleven - pumped my gas $7 and went in the store got some coffee and when the cashier rang me up - they could not find where I had gotten $7 in gas - my car was still at the pump - so he said you don't have to pay - we cannot find that you got gas. True Story :D I know the Lord blesses in different ways especially when we obey his voice.

I don't have a policy on this issue and I'm not consistent. I do what feels right at the time. I have sometimes given away my last $5, and sometimes I've said "no" when I had plenty of money. I never regret giving, but I often feel bad about not giving. What if I turned away the only truly needy person who ever asked me for help?

D. Not give money I gave a guy money for gas after listening to a sob story and saw him doing the same thing in the same parking lot about a week later to another person. I mentioned it to the person he was conning and left. Too many people scamming.

Every day there arre people standing out on highway overramps, and street corners with

signs and their hands out. It has been exposed that this is a major scam syndicate and

these people turn in their money at the end of their shift, to someone who makes sure these

people have protection from others who want their spots. There's alot of competition by

people who don't want to do any physical work, and just want to beg for money to get a

salary, from the Mr Big, whoever he is.

You need to report him to the police for them to watch and stake out this spot and arrest

him. Often these people have a dog on a rope, or a small child, anything to get your attention

and sympathy. It's a racket, plain and symple. So don't be duped.

I don't believe in his story about needing money for gas. I bet he was going to use whatever you might give him to warm himself with a little hooch. Or maybe some marijuana, "The Devil's Flower."

I would have told him to turn away from a life of pleasure and sin, to "Just Say No" to Satan and his evil ways, to devote himself henceforth to the study of Holy Scripture, to become an upstanding Republican, and to lead a blameless life in Christ forever more.

This trick always works like a charm. If you don't want to give anyone any money, then just start jabbering about how much you love Jesus. And before you know it, panhandlers, drunks, bums, derelicts, con artists, and even hardened criminals will immediately try to get as far away from you as they possibly can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5VdjEZrQi0

I always say 'Man, I wish I could help you out but all I have is my debit card.' Then pat my pockets, shake my head and shrug my shoulders for emphasis. They immediately walk away. Of course, I never carry change in my pocket that might jingle. I'ts a sad situation when someone is reduced to begging for change in a parking lot, 98% of them will use it to buy drugs or alcohol. Last week a guy asked me at the gas station for money to get on the bus. I gave him my routine, someone else gave him money. When I drove out of the gas station I saw the guy and his girl standing at the bus stop a block away. Glad someone helped them out I guess, but for me, too many others have ruined it for him.

Edit: And No! Don't call 911 on a panhandler, it's for fire, medical and life or death emergencies.

I would quickly get in the car and lock the doors and take off. You may want to call the store and give a description of the fellow to store security. Why take chances? If his story were true he could go in the store and ask to use a phone to call a friend or to call police to help him out. Elderly single women are very easy targets --be careful and alert.

You probably did the right thing - each case is different. I recently gave a little money to a hungry-looking guy outside a Wendys we were going into, and he at once came in and ate a value meal, giving us a big grin and a thumbs-up.