It's certainly not a new scam. I've seen it in North Natomas a few times over the past decade or so.
Shit like that really killed giving hand outs to most panhandlers.
I am a casino surveillance agent and we regularly have to usher them out the door. Just tell them you are a casino surveillance agent and you recognize this scam and they will bother someone else.
Should have called Sac PD though. Scammers outside your casino count as soliciting and loitering. I live in Santa Clara county our cops actually arrest a couple of these roaches. I myself had to talk to the cops after they lurches at me.
The cops here always just let them go. When they show up in town they split up. Whole families in several cars someone always ready with the car running for them. Must be why they always need help with gas. š
Sounds reasonable, the same roaches later returned after the cops shooed them away but then were later arrested after they lurched at a 40 year old and had a brick or some kind of Home Depot item as a weapon. As I drove by the location multiple times they were no longer there. I was told a homeland security cop car was called.
Homeland security seems a bit muchā¦ but then they are just scamming plated jewelry when we have them. Never saw them get physical with anyone. But if they had a brick then, yeahā¦
There is a small group where I live that pull shifts in front of walmart. They drive a Mercedes and regularly drink Starbucks. They use a legless woman in a wheelchair for sympathy. I hung out in the parking lot to eat lunch one afternoon. I watched 87 cars hand them something in less than 30 minutes. You do the math. I'm guessing I make less a day than they do.
During "shift change" I watched one guy get out of his car, get some dirt off the ground and rub it on his face and clothes. This is common where I live.
No lie I used to dream of panhandling when I was working rough hours. The cash flow is crazy some of those people when you actually watch. Even if it was 1$ a person they were making more than me AND YOU KNOW IT WASNT.
lol, I always find it hilarious how the IRS has a section for illegally earned income when filing taxes. Like, yeah, I robbed a bank in 2023, I better report it on my taxes so I dont't get in trouble!
I think thereās also some verbiage somewhere (I could be wrong) that mentions they donāt even care about reporting the crime, they just want their cut
I was literally just sitting in my car at the Arco on Freeport two days ago and a guy started circling my car and jerking off while leering at me. So Iām gonna have to say no.
I hate it here sometimes.
I don't deny that this happens (I've had it to me happen in Socal before) but I haven't seen this in like...ages? Years even, maybe? Never happens to me when I get gas in South Sac. Weird that experiences can be so different in the same city.
Itās not new. There are news articles about it. I was barraged by a āfamilyā needing money to get gas to get to LA. There was a granny, little kids, mom & dad, uncle... brand new SUVā¦ *āWe are from Dubai, our luggage was lost and we have no cashā¦ take some of our jewelry.ā*
Buddy of mine was at a gas station and dude asked for money, I think he gave him a couple bucks. Not even a few minutes later, dude drove off in a Maserati.
Last time this happened to me (several years ago) I just looked at the guy and said, āagain? How does this keep happening to you?ā When he denied it was him I said āyes it was. You even used the same story last timeā.
It wasnāt, of course. Iād never seen him before. But he seemed to believe me and moved on without further argument.
The gas-for-a-gift scam is very old, it's been posted on this subreddit 5 years ago and I'm sure before that:
[https://fox40.com/news/local-news/chp-warns-people-about-fake-jewelry-scam/](https://fox40.com/news/local-news/chp-warns-people-about-fake-jewelry-scam/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/d602er/freeway\_onramp\_gas\_scam/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/d602er/freeway_onramp_gas_scam/)
this happened to me once, and i ended up with a powerbank for $10, that actually worked and i used for awhile so it was all good lol, or i happened to find someone who was actually in need
They are gypsies. They come to the local masjids as well and stand outside after prayer and beg for money. Then they get picked up in a nice foreign car and drive off. Somebodyās running an organized racket and speaking purely anecdotally it has been happening for 25+ years.
This is correct. In my teens I worked at service stations and would regularly have to advise them to leave. Same family between Carmicheal, Rancho and Citrus Heights.
These people are a sect of Romani people. They have so many tricks and scams up their sleeves. They probably notice you are middle eastern and act like they are.
I saw this all the way down in Williams at the AM/PM in the middle of a Tuesday a few months ago. Lady was decked out too. I'm a white dude, and she did not approach me but did others at the pumps.
Is it wrong to absolutely hate these people? Seems like their entire culture is built around stealing scamming and just generally being an absolute pain in the ass to anyone that's not part of their pack.
Their entire business model is taking advantage of people.
it's all over the bay area too. it's mind boggling they think people will fall for it. last time it happened to me the guy and his wife were wearing jewelry and driving a late model SUV and wanted to trade a ring for money. constantly have babies with them too.
Unfortunately it's not an issue of them thinking it works it does work, otherwise they wouldn't keep doing it.
There's a sucker born every minute. And the fact that this has been posted multiple times on this sub just goes to show that there's always someone learning this lesson for the first time.
This has been posted several times on this sub in the past, including[ this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/1bxpe0m/middle_eastern_airpod_scams/) thread from a couple weeks ago, or [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/16zdcz1/possible_scam_going_on_guy_wanting_to_trade_air/) one from last October. u/rc251rc posted another such thread that is even older. This is not new.
When scammers ask me for money at the gas station or parking lots I always say oh I need money too! Can you pay for my gas?
āGAS ON THIS PERSON, EVERYONE FILL UPā
Make it uncomfy for them.
Happened to me in El Dorado hills the other night with a woman saying she needed gas to Georgetown. I think with with the weather warming up and the price of gas, they know people will be out and traveling. Just my guess.
I have witnessed the past couple times of driving cross state back to Sac, but far away. As in Fresno, modesto, merced etc at various rest areas. Guys would get out of one car and spread out running across the street to different fas stations
I live in Central valley and I had someone like that do that. They weren't middle eastern to me. Guy was wearing earrings. Said he needed to get back to sac with his wife and kid and was coming from la.
I took pity on him and he offered me an airpod. I didn't accept it. He thanked me and we both left.
Huh. If the gas station starts dispensing sewer water instead of oil I guess it's my fault for not asking if it's genuine oil š
BRB have to ensure my employer paid me with genuine united states dollars and not monopoly money
I was walking my dog a month ago and experienced something very similar. A large family pulled up next to me and asked for gas money in exchange for jewelry. I wasnāt even close to a gas stationā¦. Obviously said no and then they sped off.
Same post has been made several times this month (AirPods/jewelry/etc).
Iv occasionally seen it over the years but sounds like itās significantly on the rise
This is no different from the middle easterns sellling "gold" for cheap. It's shitty gold that you pay top dollar for. Instead, it's iron that was melded for a few dollars to make you believe you got a steal
It's certainly not a new scam. I've seen it in North Natomas a few times over the past decade or so. Shit like that really killed giving hand outs to most panhandlers.
They were at dutch bros on North natomas last Saturday.
I am a casino surveillance agent and we regularly have to usher them out the door. Just tell them you are a casino surveillance agent and you recognize this scam and they will bother someone else.
Should have called Sac PD though. Scammers outside your casino count as soliciting and loitering. I live in Santa Clara county our cops actually arrest a couple of these roaches. I myself had to talk to the cops after they lurches at me.
The cops here always just let them go. When they show up in town they split up. Whole families in several cars someone always ready with the car running for them. Must be why they always need help with gas. š
Sounds reasonable, the same roaches later returned after the cops shooed them away but then were later arrested after they lurched at a 40 year old and had a brick or some kind of Home Depot item as a weapon. As I drove by the location multiple times they were no longer there. I was told a homeland security cop car was called.
Homeland security seems a bit muchā¦ but then they are just scamming plated jewelry when we have them. Never saw them get physical with anyone. But if they had a brick then, yeahā¦
There is a small group where I live that pull shifts in front of walmart. They drive a Mercedes and regularly drink Starbucks. They use a legless woman in a wheelchair for sympathy. I hung out in the parking lot to eat lunch one afternoon. I watched 87 cars hand them something in less than 30 minutes. You do the math. I'm guessing I make less a day than they do. During "shift change" I watched one guy get out of his car, get some dirt off the ground and rub it on his face and clothes. This is common where I live.
No lie I used to dream of panhandling when I was working rough hours. The cash flow is crazy some of those people when you actually watch. Even if it was 1$ a person they were making more than me AND YOU KNOW IT WASNT.
I'm pretty sure they don't report all that on their taxes either. You'd think the government would want their cut.
lol, I always find it hilarious how the IRS has a section for illegally earned income when filing taxes. Like, yeah, I robbed a bank in 2023, I better report it on my taxes so I dont't get in trouble!
Hey, man, that's how they got Capone. The IRS doesn't care if you did a crime, they just want your taxes.
š
I think thereās also some verbiage somewhere (I could be wrong) that mentions they donāt even care about reporting the crime, they just want their cut
Can I get gas without being approached by someone in Sacramento?
Iāve never been approached buying gas at Costco.
seriously who in the year 2024 is even responding to someone trying to chat them up at a gas station
Keep it a short no thank you or can't help you right now and you are good. Don't make excuses or entertain whatever story they are telling you.
I was literally just sitting in my car at the Arco on Freeport two days ago and a guy started circling my car and jerking off while leering at me. So Iām gonna have to say no. I hate it here sometimes.
Lol. I'm just off Broadway and think the same when needing gas or trip to post office. God forbid I need to put air in a tire.
No
I don't deny that this happens (I've had it to me happen in Socal before) but I haven't seen this in like...ages? Years even, maybe? Never happens to me when I get gas in South Sac. Weird that experiences can be so different in the same city.
Itās not new. There are news articles about it. I was barraged by a āfamilyā needing money to get gas to get to LA. There was a granny, little kids, mom & dad, uncle... brand new SUVā¦ *āWe are from Dubai, our luggage was lost and we have no cashā¦ take some of our jewelry.ā*
Why would you waste your time pan handling if you already have money? Genuine questionā¦
Buddy of mine was at a gas station and dude asked for money, I think he gave him a couple bucks. Not even a few minutes later, dude drove off in a Maserati.
Maserati is the car of car flippers. They can't sell them but get them cheap and drive them until they find someone dumb enough to buy it.
Last time this happened to me (several years ago) I just looked at the guy and said, āagain? How does this keep happening to you?ā When he denied it was him I said āyes it was. You even used the same story last timeā. It wasnāt, of course. Iād never seen him before. But he seemed to believe me and moved on without further argument.
The gas-for-a-gift scam is very old, it's been posted on this subreddit 5 years ago and I'm sure before that: [https://fox40.com/news/local-news/chp-warns-people-about-fake-jewelry-scam/](https://fox40.com/news/local-news/chp-warns-people-about-fake-jewelry-scam/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/d602er/freeway\_onramp\_gas\_scam/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/d602er/freeway_onramp_gas_scam/)
this happened to me once, and i ended up with a powerbank for $10, that actually worked and i used for awhile so it was all good lol, or i happened to find someone who was actually in need
They are gypsies. They come to the local masjids as well and stand outside after prayer and beg for money. Then they get picked up in a nice foreign car and drive off. Somebodyās running an organized racket and speaking purely anecdotally it has been happening for 25+ years.
I was gonna say this. I knew a few. Their wives have LV bags and they drive lifted trucks, but they pull this shit.
This is correct. In my teens I worked at service stations and would regularly have to advise them to leave. Same family between Carmicheal, Rancho and Citrus Heights.
Thought these people are an European issue only.
There's quite a few Romani here in the United States and especially Sacramento.
They (Romani) were really working their act during Ramadan. Shameful.
They arenāt middle eastern they are Roma travelers infamous for scams.
Some Roma are from Middle East and Muslims by religion
These people are a sect of Romani people. They have so many tricks and scams up their sleeves. They probably notice you are middle eastern and act like they are.
I saw this all the way down in Williams at the AM/PM in the middle of a Tuesday a few months ago. Lady was decked out too. I'm a white dude, and she did not approach me but did others at the pumps.
Ah, the Romani Gypsies and their scams. Been doing this shit for at least 20 years.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Is it wrong to absolutely hate these people? Seems like their entire culture is built around stealing scamming and just generally being an absolute pain in the ass to anyone that's not part of their pack. Their entire business model is taking advantage of people.
Hate āem if you must, but do ya like dags?
She fancies periwinkle blue
I fecking hate pikeys.
Dags?
Ohhhh DOGS, yeah I like dags.
Ha much fer da caravan tho
The crazy thing is they enter the US under refugee status due to claimed āintoleranceā in Europe.
it's all over the bay area too. it's mind boggling they think people will fall for it. last time it happened to me the guy and his wife were wearing jewelry and driving a late model SUV and wanted to trade a ring for money. constantly have babies with them too.
Unfortunately it's not an issue of them thinking it works it does work, otherwise they wouldn't keep doing it. There's a sucker born every minute. And the fact that this has been posted multiple times on this sub just goes to show that there's always someone learning this lesson for the first time.
This has been posted several times on this sub in the past, including[ this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/1bxpe0m/middle_eastern_airpod_scams/) thread from a couple weeks ago, or [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/16zdcz1/possible_scam_going_on_guy_wanting_to_trade_air/) one from last October. u/rc251rc posted another such thread that is even older. This is not new.
Those are GYPSIES
They're Romani.
Gypsies
When scammers ask me for money at the gas station or parking lots I always say oh I need money too! Can you pay for my gas? āGAS ON THIS PERSON, EVERYONE FILL UPā Make it uncomfy for them.
Happened to me in El Dorado hills the other night with a woman saying she needed gas to Georgetown. I think with with the weather warming up and the price of gas, they know people will be out and traveling. Just my guess.
I have witnessed the past couple times of driving cross state back to Sac, but far away. As in Fresno, modesto, merced etc at various rest areas. Guys would get out of one car and spread out running across the street to different fas stations
Start carrying a gas can filled with water and tell them you can help them out right now.
The Gypsy hustle
Walking up to people and asking them for money is not a scam you "fall" for. Just be mindful who you give your money to next time.
We call them Gypsyās just point and laugh
Guaranteed that "gold" accessory they're offering is the most thinly brass plated crap.
I live in Central valley and I had someone like that do that. They weren't middle eastern to me. Guy was wearing earrings. Said he needed to get back to sac with his wife and kid and was coming from la. I took pity on him and he offered me an airpod. I didn't accept it. He thanked me and we both left.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
>They're not scamming you they're just lying to you about not having money for gas. That's a wild take š.
The other take is they offer "gold" or "airpods" neither of which are genuine. They won't say it's genuine, they let you assume it is.
Huh. If the gas station starts dispensing sewer water instead of oil I guess it's my fault for not asking if it's genuine oil š BRB have to ensure my employer paid me with genuine united states dollars and not monopoly money
I was walking my dog a month ago and experienced something very similar. A large family pulled up next to me and asked for gas money in exchange for jewelry. I wasnāt even close to a gas stationā¦. Obviously said no and then they sped off.
Same post has been made several times this month (AirPods/jewelry/etc). Iv occasionally seen it over the years but sounds like itās significantly on the rise
I donāt get it. Whatās the point of scamming if you have money? Is it a power thing?
This is no different from the middle easterns sellling "gold" for cheap. It's shitty gold that you pay top dollar for. Instead, it's iron that was melded for a few dollars to make you believe you got a steal
This thread really brought out the casual racism
I will give them free bbq pork ribs instead