Washington DC fraud warning

[Jules Levin]

At 04:25 AM 11/12/2006, you wrote:
>Dear SEELANGS colleagues:
>
>Forwarding a "fraud alert" tonight about Hyatt Regency hotel guests,
>I am reminded about a totally different type of fraud that happened
>to me in Washington DC in December 2005, during the MLA-AATSEEL
>conferences.  I lost "only" $60, so it's not in the same class with what
>happened to Profs. Brasky and Dunlap.  But in any event don't let it
>happen to you.
>...
>The next day, when she didn't reappear, I learned the jewelry was
>worthless junk, and when I called the referenced law firm and talked
>to their security officer, I learned that the articulate Little Old Lady
>(name unknown) had previously worked the very same swindle on
>several other gullible folks in the DC area.
>
>Here's hoping you good folks going to DC won't be as gullible as I was,
>Steven P Hill,
>University of Illinois.

This is not strictly speaking related to Slavic, but your story presents a
dilemma for people who dread turning away a fellow human in need as 
much as they
fear being victimized by a scam artist.  So here is a suggestion.
Many years ago I told a friend how afraid I would be to stop my car 
in the "middle of
nowhere" at night to help people in distress by the side of the 
road.  His answer was that
in the 20th Century the 'good Samaritan' problem was obsolete--one 
should note the location,
drive to the nearest telephone, and call the highway patrol!  With 
cell phones it is even easier.
Now as for the Old Lady scam, perhaps in every city there are 
probably several agencies that help
stranded travellers.  Offer to help the Old Lady reach 1) the nearest 
Salvation Army post, 2) the nearest
open church, 3) the police station, 4) ???  One can even put her in a 
taxi to go there--give the driver just
enough to cover the trip.  Or one could call the law offices right in 
front of her to "let her husband
know the situation,", etc., etc.  With a little imagination there is 
always a solution short of handing over cash.  The
hungry bum who you think is only going to buy MD wine--you can offer 
to buy him a square meal in the nearest cafe!
Jules Levin

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