Guy on Reddit gets scammed by dude claiming to be from Baton Rouge

quote:

---

After weeks of conversing with this homeless man, it turns out he'd been divorced, legally stripped of his possessions and daughter. Today, I finally obtained and gave him enough money to allow him to get back home to Baton Rouge, where he and his ex-wife are reconvening. Good luck, Gus!

---

quote:

---

Oh man. I know of this guy, and he's a real pro. He is what one might say, a permanent resident at the Atlanta Mission, and Baptist Rescue Mission. Both about a mile and a half from GSU campus. I was there for a minute getting on my feet, and then did outreach afterwards as a way to give back.

This dude is a constant conman, he's always hanging near the mission. By day, he'll run cons, by night most of the time he sleeps at the Atlanta Mission with a bag full of name brand clothes. But he has a lot of homies around who will let him crash at their ratty flophouses in that area. He collects disability, so at the beginning of each month, he and a few other dudes will pool their cash and get a cheap hotel for a week.

You're a good human, but you got played. If you want to help, go volunteer at the Atlanta Mission/Sheperds Inn on Ivan Allen by Centennial Olympic Park. Or donate to them, they need all the help they can get, and provide a reliable, shelter service while being a safe controlled environment. LINK

EDIT: While I have a little traction here. I'm going to promote the Atlanta Mission/Shepherds Inn. It is a very good mission to donate to. Between them and the Salvation Army directly up the street there are places doing good for the Atlanta homeless population. There are a lot of guys out there who want to skate and scam, guys who just want to stay homeless, and mental and substance issues. But there are A LOT of good guys out on those streets who fell thru the cracks. Between them and the Salvation Army I made it back on my feet and quickly. But they both need resources to make these things possible.

Every night the Mission takes in around 500 men. Showers them, holds their bags safely to cut down on disease and spread of bed bugs, but also so you don't have to worry about losing your shite every night. They feed them a hearty meal served by volunteers, and prepared by volunteers and live in guys who are in on campus transitional housing. Air conditioned rooms in hot summer and heat in winter. Breakfast in the morning and they're out.

Sometimes it was a day there reading a book, taking a shower and not worrying about where I was going to sleep that made me feel human again. So maybe OP got scammed, but his heart was in the right place, and there are ways to help those genuinely in need.

---