Scam Artist Working Streets of Penn Quarter

HA! I see this woman almost every evening near 7th & Constitution. We’ve all been suckers for one scam or another, no need to beat yourself up over this.

I remember the very day I moved to DC, renting a room in house on 15th ST SE (in 1998) I fell victim to one of these sob-story ladies who came knocking on the door. Happens to everyone.

I was hit up about nine months ago by this same woman, at the corner of 9th and Pennsylvania. I didn’t give her any money because I didn’t believe her. I’ve seen her working her hustle since, once interrupted her plea to an unsuspecting passerby.

I think I have seen this woman, too, although I have not been directly approached. I wonder if she’s ever made the mistake of going to the same person twice…

On another note, does anyone know what the helicopter has been doing flying above Penn Quarter starting around 230pm today? I cannot see it, but can hear it and see it’s shadow…

Here’s a good one. There is a guy that stands at the top of the Gallery Place garage and asks for your $10 parking fee. You pay him, only to realize at the REAL gate, you have been scammed, and need to pay the lot the correct amount to park. Best part — when I complained about the guy at the top of the ramp, their reaction was “Oh, him again.” — with no movement to confront him for removal.

I’m concerned about the three kids who are running the scam about athletic uniforms. They have a poorly copied “letter” from their coach and tell adults they are fundraising money. They’ve been doing this since at least October around Verizon Center and around the old convention center site (in front of the hotels).

And there is another woman who uses her child in a stroller as her con for money. Offer to buy food or something for the child and she refuses. I’ve seen her give money to a guy after pan handling at 5th and K.

I have witnessed the woman in the stroller doing that same thing.

There is also a shorter woman (around 5′) or so who strolls up and down H street. I have heard her tell one person a story about just getting off the bus from NYC and needing bus money to her home. 5 minutes later she is telling someone else that she is just trying to feed her children. I’ve seen her enter certain stores after she has enough money.

I’ve had the same scam done on me a few years ago. I was suckered in and gave a few bucks. I’m a bit older and wiser now, just say sorry and move on.

Funny you post this today, she approached me last night as well.

I’m glad someone brought up the football uniform kids. They probably ask me for money weekly around 5th and Mass. I never give, but always kinda wondered if they were really trying to scam me.

I have had almost all of the ones posted here (and others also) approach me over the last few years. As a general rule, I will never give one dime to folks on the street. Like any rule, there are exceptions.

There is guy around 7th and H saying that he has just been released from prison and needs money for the bus into Maryland. I ran into him on the way home from work wearing a suit on a Monday, and then ran into him again on a Thursday wearing work out clothes. It was a bit funny to see his face when he realized I was the same person and his story wasn’t going to work…

Does anyone know the story behind the guy at the corner of 7th & H St (usually in front of the Fuddrucker’s) that chants “spare some change”? I see him there everyday, reading a book in his rascal scooter wearing different clothes. He’s gotta go somewhere to recharge that thing!

I live near 5th and Mass. Crack costs $5. For many of these folks, they buy crack once they get $5 and then start the cycle again. If you want to support the drug and crime problem in the neighborhood, give to the pan handlers and scam artists.

As for the kids, I hope the police will finally check on their welfare. They are being exploited by some adult somewhere.

My favorite is the kid saying he works for AmeriCorps in Baltimore and overstayed the MARC train and needs a few bucks to upgrade to the Amtrak. I’ve seen him (on different weekends) on U Street and coming out of the Chinatown Metro. It’s a good schtick, because who’s against AmeriCorps?

I actually had a kid come to my apartment door. When I answered, he tried to give me a Washington Post for a donation. I told him I already had one, and he asked for a donation for his football team… I feel bad for any kid who really does need to fund-raise for his sports team, but how can you know they’re legit?

I’ve been hit up for money by the kid saying he works for AmeriCorps! I believe I was walking to the Gallery Place Metro station early on a weekend morning. I did think the story was a little odd…

PQ has the most unbelievable concentration of street people with a gimmick or a saga, nver fails to amaze me. and they all hang around for years suckering the tourists. We residents know the regulars, like International man -the guy who knows every country, or hospital lady – the crackhead who needs $50 for a CAB to annapolis to reunite with her church (great example of what crack does to your teeth)…& scooter man who reads all day at the corner. panhandling is only illegal if its aggressive but if you see kids doing it, or someone working a scam, call 911. yes 911 for all crime now, they changed it. 311 is now for city services.

last night Yard man rang my doorbell at 11 $^@#!#$!ing pm wanting money to sweep my yard. My pookie forked over a few bucks only after he did something & promised not to ring the bell so #$!#$@ing late. he’s semi honest but i swear he steals trash cans & brooms.

I have heard many different versions of the same from many different people:

I have to get to the hospital to get my aids treatment (I saw him 3 times in 2 weeks), I have to get to Maryland asap for my appointment with my parole officer (maybe that was true?), I never ask for money, but I just don’t have enough to get home today. And then one where I actually gave the guy money. He knocked on the door of the house I used to live on about 7 blocks north of PQ. It was cold and raining on a weekend. He said he made a deal with the O Street Giant to give him and his hungry daughter a food basket if he could get $7.00. I had about $1.50 in change sitting on the window ledge within reach, so I gave it to him. That greedy bastard was obviously expecting more, and just kept looking at me with a face that said, “I know you can shell out some more cash”. I thought I gave him a decent amount toward his goal, so I shut the door in his face. I felt a small amount of guilt at the time, but it completely dissappeared a week later when I was told by the neighborhood association that a guy was going around house to house with this fake story about how he needed $7 to get dinner for his daughter.

I think he does steal trash cans and brooms, because I hired him about 7 years ago to clean my yeard, bag it and take it away. He had his own tools and was working for a while. I paid him before he was finished (stupid), because I had to leave. When I came home his broom and trash can were still there, and the job wasn’t done. His stuff sat in my yard for days before it disappeared.

He came and asked if he could do my yard almost a year later. He didn’t remember me, and couldn’t understand why I was saying no.

#10 and #17, I think you’re talking about the same guy (parole officer guy = guy just released from prison). He approached my husband and I on 5th and Mass last spring. Fortunately we didn’t fall for his story.

I have totally forgotten about the AmeriCorps story. I was approached by a kid with that story a while ago. I have had friends who were in AmeriCorps and I ran the story by them and they thought it was odd that he’d be in DC on a regular basis without transportation or a stipend if he were placed in Baltimore. It could be but I am leery. Perhaps he is just clever. It does stink that you don’t have a lot of faith…

#16 — I have called the police and spoken with Lt. Fulton about the scamming downtown kids. MPD doesn’t seem to get that kids approaching adults for money is a sign that they are in trouble. The police have known about them since at least October but have done nothing. And I’ve been approached by the kids many times and often several times in one day. It can’t be difficult to intervene but DC Government does not seem to react to kids at risk.

Readings so many of these accounts is incredible…I had no idea there were so many beggars and scam artists in PQ. I live up the hill a ways near the north side of the convention center and we don’t seem to get nearly as many up here. I do see the mute old asian begger guy in the straw hat in my neighborhood quite a bit though. I feel bad for him…he can’t speak so he just thrusts out his hand for change and mumbles. This city’s gotta do more for its more unfortunate residents.

What is incredible to me when I read all these accounts is the fact that so many people fall for these scams… or even take the time to listen to them. Call me hard hearted or insensitive, but its pretty easy to avoid the bums and scam artists in our neighborhood– don’t stop, don’t engage them in conversation, just give them a firm “no” and keep on moving. Was I embarrassed one time when the person approaching me was actually trying to get directions to the women’s shelter? Yes, but I helped her, moved on, and got over it. I don’t get why people feel the obligation to give money to strangers just because they ask. No matter what the story, 95% of the time it is a scam.

Wow this is so bizzarre, considering I have been followed three blocks by the uniform kids, and chased- CHASED- by the guy who sits on the corner of 5th and H (the empty retail space) while he yelled after me that he was homeless. Also there is a crazy lady that always is stumbling in and out of the doorway of the Irish Channel. I certainly think she uses whatever money she scams to buy booze, because I have seen her literally fall out of the entryway and then approach me for cash.

I’ve gotten the lady who’s been in a car accident but can’t get any money to get home and the lady who needed to catch the bus back to NYC. I’m still mad at myself for giving a couple of bucks to the lady. My husband didn’t believe the woman headed back to NYC and since we were across the street from the bus on H street he offered to pay the $25 if she actually got on the bus. Needless to say she wasn’t going to NYC and instead got very belligerent and said a lot of nasty stuff to my husband.

A different take on “scams”: at the last DNA meeting, Commander Kamperin mentioned that residents near 11th and K may have seen an uptick of prostitutes on those corners . . . except they were actually undercover police who netted 20 arrests one night! Those johns are the ones who should feel stupid for opening up their wallets, not you all!

If MPD reads these posts —

It seems that there is certainly enough information in these posts and elsewhere for MPD to create a list of regular PQ scam artists and aggressive panhandlers and do some aggressive enforcement of these violations.

For instance — there is no reason why children are allowed to panhandle much less do it in the form of a scam. Pick them up and check on their situation. The other scam artists are well-known in the neighborhood. Put them on notice that their activities will no longer be tolerated. And we know which pan handlers on 7th Street will threaten to “kill you” or call you “white trash” if you refuse to give. Not acceptable behavior. They should be put on notice as well that they will be cited for aggressive panhandling if they continue that behavior.

At some point, MPD needs to make a commitment to this neighborhood to resolve some of these issues. It has been done in other cities. It can happen here as well.

Chris L, I live on O St and see the guy in the straw hat all the time..I could have sworn I have heard him talk….I have seen him frequently go into BeBar only to get kicked out right away..I think he hangs out at the laundromat at 11/th12th and M (cant remember where it is exactly)??

While I completely understand that the police can not be everywhere and do everything, they certainly could be more visible in our neighborhood..on foot or on bike. While it won’t discourage -all- of this activity, I do think it would help.

Welcome to city living!!! I have never given money to someone on the street, and I never will. If panhandling and begging can support life (or a drug habit), then it will never end and the folks in need of help will not persue legitimate avenues – for which your tax dollars and mine are taken from us every day we go to work.

I don’t stop for anyone on the street. Three years ago I stopped for two guys who asked me if I had a cigarette. Within a few seconds of me stopping they were both punching me and kept punching me until I passed out. I’m fine now, and was actually one block from home (at the time it was 17th and Euclid). I will never stop for a stranger on the street again. Give your money to organizations that help to support the homeless and not to homeless people themselves. That is my advice.

Last night I was called a “white devil” for not forking over money to one of the bums on 7th Street. My guess is that MPD will respond but it won’t be until a resident or tourist gets fed up and physically retaliates against one of these low lifes. The response will be to charge the offender with battery.

I used to get stopped all the time by a tall, skinny guy with a lazy eye who said he use to play basketball for AU. He would lay some rap on me about having AIDS and trying to help the homeless with AIDS sleeping in the park. The best was the first time when he asked me where I was from. I told him Dallas and then he tells me he is from Arlington, a neighboring city. Not a week later he approaches me again (doesn’t remember me from Adam) with the same question. So I say Boston. He tells me he is from Waltham. All I could do was laugh. Impressive knowledge of geography though.

On Tuesday evening I was heading toward CVS and was approached by the tall black woman at D and 8th. I didn’t see her and walked by and she kept yelling mam, mam, mam finally I stopped and she started into this tale about the car accident. I told her I was new to the area and left. A little later when I was coming out of CVS, she was there hitting up some other person. There was also an unusually large bunch of shady looking juveniles and other people in CVS and hovering around her outside and I wondered if she was working with them.

I hardly ever stop for any strangers on the street unless they are in medical peril. You can answer answer questions and keep wealking at the same time.

I also have wondered about the football unifrom kids. They are all over the city and work the Metro trains as well. I agree that there may be some adult behind their actions, and I’m curious as to why and how they are being put up to the scam.

Golden Triangle BID used to hand out wallet sized cards to give out or use for people seeking basic services (food/shelter). It served as a nice tool for actually helping the needy who live on the streets.

This woman tried to hit me up for money a week or two ago – the accident story. My favorite used to be a woman who asked for money for tampons while squeezing her legs together – an Oscar-worthy performance.
Many of these scammers / beggars are not homeless, but as to the ones who are – our help-the-homeless agencies are not doing a good job. Also, it is illegal to sleep in your car or on the beach or in public areas etc. in Florida cities – why isn’t it illegal here?
Never stop for beggars, people asking for the time, directions, etc. Too dangerous. Keep walking.

I don’t stop for anyone on the street either. Never have, never will.

I do a fair amount of community service and know that there are many, many places nearby for people to get help (food, etc.) if they need it. I don’t view giving someone money to feed an addiction as “helping” them, so maybe that’s why it’s easier for me to pass them by. I don’t feel conflicted about it at all. (And, as well-documented in this post and comments, it’s a matter of self-preservation as well.)

Not a scam but…… Does anybody know what the guy hanging around the bottom of the West Elm escalator at Metro Center every morning is up to? I see him almost every day on my way to work.

There should be a website where people can post their run-ins with these types in DC — that way the whole city can benefit and fewer people will get taken advantage of.

re:There should be a website where people can post their run-ins with these types in DC — that way the whole city can benefit and fewer people will get taken advantage of.

WELCOME TO PQLIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, I mean a website solely dedicated to this sort of thing, where people can report and search through incidents by neighborhood, date, etc.

In March of last year, a friend and I got hit up by the guy Mark @ 10 was talking about at Union Station. Nine months later, he hits me up again in front of the post office. He didn’t take to favorably when I called him on this fact.

I’ve learned as a general rule not to carry to money on me.

I used to work in a liquor store in this area and talked to this kind of person every day. I also have a mentally ill relative. Her $550 per month SSI check only covers her cigarette and alcohol habit. You should not give anyone on the street anything. They have access to free food, free clothing, free shelter, free medical care, emergency money, free transportation, free housing, free job training, free lawyers and free drug treatment. If you want to buy them a pack of cigarettes, drugs or alcohol then by all means give them something of value. If you give them socks, gloves, shoes, food, toiletries, etc. they will either sell them to buy what they want or throw them on the ground and the city will have to pay to have it picked up and put in a trash can.

Don’t forget pregnant lady (not showing, she just claims to be pregnant).

I once had a guy tell me a long complicated story about how he was a musician who had lost his wallet, so now couldn’t pay to get his car out of a garage and needed to call his wife (a nurse) at work in NYC so she could wire him some money, etc., etc. I think he eventually asked for $5 for a phone card.

Anyway, I told him “Sorry, I just don’t believe you.” When he immediately turned away cursing under his breath, I knew I had been right.

I’ve also been approached near the Anacostia metro stop by a man with a teenager whom he claimed was his retarded daughter, and asked for money to get them both downtown to a homeless shelter. I told him, “Sorry, I’ve been scammed so many times, I don’t give money on the street any more.” He was pleasant about the refusal. A couple of weeks later he tried to scam me again with the same story–only a different kid was with him, a teenage boy.

folk will run these scams anywhere in DC, not just in the Penn Quarter. you’ll see this in Dupont Circle, Georgetown and anywhere else where there is a large enough target “audience.” I think non-urbanites are the most easily convinced that they should give money away which only encourages more of this soliciting.

this happens in every major urban area in the world and I’ve seen it in places like Mexico City, Delhi and even Paris on the Champs d’Elysses. I have not seen it in the open in Singapore or Hong Kong which may be a political commentary. in HK, you’ll get a custom made shirt or knock off watch out of a street deal.

I find the best way to respond is look ’em in the eye, say “I’m sorry but not today” and keep on moving.

I agree with pqresident. I listened to a presentation once from the executive director of a non-profit organization that wokrs with the homless. Someone asked him for advice about giving money to panhandlers. He said that while this is a personal choice, it’s almost always the best decision not to give them anything (since anything they get will probably go to drugs or alcohol.

He also said that simply telling them with a “not this time, sir/ma’am,” or “not today…” acknowledges their existence and that most will appreciate it. This is what I always do, and after years of this approach have gotten quite a few “thanks anyway” responses. I’ve even been thanked for acknowledging some of them.

When I first came to the area this summer I was getting out of my car on a Saturday evening when a man ran up to me. He had a photo copied paper and claimed the police had towed his car. He needed me to give him $10 so he could redeem his vehicle. I gave him the money, not because I believed his con. I worried that if I didn’t I might come back to a car with a slashed tire or broken windshield.

I used to “feel” bad about not giving to the panhandlers, but con artists rely on our feeling bad. Now, I give to a reliable charity and ignore the panhandlers. If they are really in a desperate situation there are plenty of places they can find food or shelter.

And when walking around I don’t even look at them anymore. I think they very much rely on eye contact. I also often walk with a scowl as if I’m pissed off when I see a panhandler ahead.

If by chance I do get stopped, I just say, “Sorry I don’t give out money, but I can direct you to a soup kitchen.”

If I am alone its late at night I sometimes even have talked to myself out loud. I figure that if they think I am a bit crazy and unpredictable they’ll be more likely to leave me alone.

“Chris L, I live on O St and see the guy in the straw hat all the time..I could have sworn I have heard him talk….”

Maybe he can talk then? I just assumed he was mute because he just grunts with his hand out when he wants money. You’d think if he could speak he’d have a better routine.

I do see him all the time near the Laundromat at 11th and M that you mentioned, but he has a pretty wide range. I’ve seen him at the Cosi at 12th and G, and even up by U street. Definitely a DC staple.

I swear the same thing happened to me by the same woman…just six years ago in Logan Circle. I even told her if she didn’t send the money (I had given her my business card) I would never give anyone a dime again. Well I must have lied since I have given money to those who seem like they need it, but I wii not give a cent to anyone with a sob story. I do think that there is a special place in Hell for the guy who walks around downtown in the evening with his kids, saying he needs cab fare to get them home.

Yes, Pregnant Lady is a favorite. She’s been “pregnant” for at least the last three years, with no discernable break to, you know, deliver a baby…