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The original was posted on /r/scams by /u/LockRevolutionary444 on 2025-09-28 14:22:41+00:00.

Back in September 2022, when I was 18 and just starting law school, I got scammed in a way I’m still embarrassed about.

A man stopped me on the street and asked me to show him the way to the airport because his GPS “wasn’t working.” He convinced me to get in his car (big mistake) and even used my hotspot to download maps. On the drive, he introduced himself as an Italian Armani designer coming back from a fashion show in Dubai. Super friendly, showed me pictures of his “work,” and as thanks for helping him, he gave me a package of supposed designer clothes, claiming he couldn’t take them back to Italy because of import duties.

Then came the pitch: his credit card didn’t work, and he needed cash for the rental car deposit. He promised to wire me the money back as soon as he got home. I fell for it, withdrew €400, and handed it over. We even stopped at a gas station where he paid about €50 from that money to fill up, leaving him with a net gain of €350.

When I got home, I discovered the “designer clothes” were cheap Primark items. The whole thing was a scam.

I tried reporting it to the police, but the officer brushed me off, saying it was “just a civil matter,” even though this was clearly fraud.

I’m still shocked and ashamed of my naivety that I didn’t dare telling it to my parents as it was my money for start of uni.

⚠️ Lesson learned: if a stranger approaches you with a sob story about needing cash, no matter how convincing or friendly they seem, don’t give them money.