Stomper gives boy $50 to help sick grandma, then finds out he uses money to buy new phone and dye hair
Posted on 04 March 2014 | 13,995 views | 12 comments
Stomper Durian101 was approached by a boy at Pioneer MRT station, asking him for $400 to take his grandmother to the hospital.
Stuart took pity on the boy after he pleaded and said he would kneel for the money, but Stuart only passed the boy $50 as he was also skeptical.
He said:
"On 25 Feb 2014, Tuesday night at 11pm, a kid approached me at Pioneer MRT to ask for $400.
"He said his grandma was having breathing difficulties and he needed to go to the hospital immediately to buy a breathing apparatus for her.
"He pleaded and said he was not lying and would kneel down for the money. He also gave me the assurance that his mother would call me when she was back in Singapore the next day.
"I took pity in him but was skeptical, so I handed him $50. However, after taking my $50, he ask me to withdraw more from the ATM but I did not."
The pair exchanged numbers, and when Stuart called the boy to check on his grandmother the following evening, he found out the boy had got a new phone.
After chatting via Whatsapp, Stuart also found out from the boy's display photo that he had coloured his hair.
He said:
"Surprisingly, he did not recognise me and I had to remind him that I was the one who lent him the money the previous night.
"He told me he just changed his mobile phone and did not have my number saved. We conversed further using Whatsapp and I got a photo of his display picture from Whatsapp.
"His hair was dyed golden. When I first saw him, his hair was black. How could someone who needs money urgently for his grandma have the money to buy a new phone and get his hair dyed?"
Stuart told the boy to return him the money or he would make a police report.
He added:
"He agreed to meet me at Jurong Point at 9pm the following day, but he did not appear. I did try to call the boy when he did not turn up.
"He told me he was feeling unwell, but I didn't really buy it. I made a police report the following day.
"The police will not take action as I gave the money willingly. There will only be a police investigation if more people can come out and and report what this kid did."
Another Stomper, Jane, also wrote in about the same boy. She warns others to keep a lookout for him if he approaches them for money.
She wrote:
"Hi all, keep a lookout for this boy. If he approaches you for money, just walk away.
"When I went to lodge a police report against the boy, I was told me that several others had also lodged police reports about him.
"Common reasons he will use include 'no money to go home', and 'grandma is sick and needs money for treatment'.
Jane says the boy even allowed her to take his photo and gave her his contact number in case he didn't return the money.
She said
"He'll claim the money will be returned and even allow you to take his photos and contact number to lodge a police report if he doesn't return the money.
"He was pretty convincing, which is why several people handed over their money. Unfortunately, he won't return it!
"A reliable source has confirmed that he always borrows money from strangers using the reasons listed above. I still haven't gotten my money back. He borrowed more than 300 bucks from me. He will only try to arrange to meet you face to face to return you the money.
"However, if you suggest using internet banking or other avenues, he will not reply. I tried calling him, but he switched off his phone.
"I hope that by posting here, at the very least, everyone can be aware of him. Please warn your loved ones. Never lend strangers such large amounts of money. On hindsight, this sounds quite duh but hey, I really thought he needed the money."
From Stompers Stuart and Jane
From Stomper Jane
Posted on 04 March 2014 | 13,995 views | 12 comments
Stomper Durian101 was approached by a boy at Pioneer MRT station, asking him for $400 to take his grandmother to the hospital.
Stuart took pity on the boy after he pleaded and said he would kneel for the money, but Stuart only passed the boy $50 as he was also skeptical.
He said:
"On 25 Feb 2014, Tuesday night at 11pm, a kid approached me at Pioneer MRT to ask for $400.
"He said his grandma was having breathing difficulties and he needed to go to the hospital immediately to buy a breathing apparatus for her.
"He pleaded and said he was not lying and would kneel down for the money. He also gave me the assurance that his mother would call me when she was back in Singapore the next day.
"I took pity in him but was skeptical, so I handed him $50. However, after taking my $50, he ask me to withdraw more from the ATM but I did not."
The pair exchanged numbers, and when Stuart called the boy to check on his grandmother the following evening, he found out the boy had got a new phone.
After chatting via Whatsapp, Stuart also found out from the boy's display photo that he had coloured his hair.
He said:
"Surprisingly, he did not recognise me and I had to remind him that I was the one who lent him the money the previous night.
"He told me he just changed his mobile phone and did not have my number saved. We conversed further using Whatsapp and I got a photo of his display picture from Whatsapp.
"His hair was dyed golden. When I first saw him, his hair was black. How could someone who needs money urgently for his grandma have the money to buy a new phone and get his hair dyed?"
Stuart told the boy to return him the money or he would make a police report.
He added:
"He agreed to meet me at Jurong Point at 9pm the following day, but he did not appear. I did try to call the boy when he did not turn up.
"He told me he was feeling unwell, but I didn't really buy it. I made a police report the following day.
"The police will not take action as I gave the money willingly. There will only be a police investigation if more people can come out and and report what this kid did."
Another Stomper, Jane, also wrote in about the same boy. She warns others to keep a lookout for him if he approaches them for money.
She wrote:
"Hi all, keep a lookout for this boy. If he approaches you for money, just walk away.
"When I went to lodge a police report against the boy, I was told me that several others had also lodged police reports about him.
"Common reasons he will use include 'no money to go home', and 'grandma is sick and needs money for treatment'.
Jane says the boy even allowed her to take his photo and gave her his contact number in case he didn't return the money.
She said
"He'll claim the money will be returned and even allow you to take his photos and contact number to lodge a police report if he doesn't return the money.
"He was pretty convincing, which is why several people handed over their money. Unfortunately, he won't return it!
"A reliable source has confirmed that he always borrows money from strangers using the reasons listed above. I still haven't gotten my money back. He borrowed more than 300 bucks from me. He will only try to arrange to meet you face to face to return you the money.
"However, if you suggest using internet banking or other avenues, he will not reply. I tried calling him, but he switched off his phone.
"I hope that by posting here, at the very least, everyone can be aware of him. Please warn your loved ones. Never lend strangers such large amounts of money. On hindsight, this sounds quite duh but hey, I really thought he needed the money."
From Stompers Stuart and Jane
From Stomper Jane
