In a previous post about beggars in Bangkok, I wrote about how not all of them are completely honest about their situation, and what a minefield it is trying to decide who is worthy and who’s just out to make a quick buck. I was reminded of this today when I was approached by a woman at a BTS station, and realized that it was the third time this same woman had asked me for money, using the same story, over three years. Maybe just a matter of me being in the right place, right time?
About three years ago I was walking down Sathorn Road at night and a woman approached me. She was wearing a blue business suit and spoke in very broken English. She explained that she had been on a bus and left her wallet behind when she got off. She needed to get home and was short 15 baht (about $0.45) for the (presumably connecting) bus fare. I was immediately skeptical because what was a Thai woman with limited English skills doing stopping a foreigner on the street, when there were dozens of Thai people within hearing distance? Anyone who has lived here knows that, unless their English is excellent, most Thais are extremely hesitant to spark up a conversation with a random foreigner, especially giant, bald ones who walk really quickly with headphones in their ears. Anyway, I said no, and kept on walking.
CUT TO: One month later. I’m walking down Sathorn again, but much further up the street. The same woman wearing the same blue business suit approaches me and tells me the same story about losing her wallet on the bus. Clearly she’s a scam artist. I wish I had the wherewithal to tell her she should move to a new spot for better business, but I just shook my head again and moved on.
CUT TO: This past weekend. I’m rounding the corner at the Krung Thonburi BTS station toward the ticket gates when the same woman stops me and gives me the same story about losing her wallet on the bus. Again, dozens of Thais surrounding us, but she stopped only me. It would be easy to forget, but the same story + the fact that this woman had a distinctive chip on her front teeth jogged the cobwebs from my brain, and it clicked. As soon as she asked for 15 baht, I again shook my head and moved on. I wish I had taken a picture.
Of course I’m not saying she didn’t need the 15 baht or wasn’t down on her luck, but it’s clearly a scam, and I’m not too fond of donating to scams. She seemed able-bodied and healthy, and Bangkok is full of legitimately disabled people who bust their asses in real jobs to make ends meet, so I didn’t see why this woman deserved pity. That being said – if she got 20 people a day to give her 15 baht each, that’s 9,000 baht a month – about the same as your average employee at Starbucks or 7-11. So really…I can almost see why she’d do it.
Lesson of the story: Not everything in Bangkok is as it seems. Question the logic of any weird situation you might find yourself in. For a deeper look, read another take on Bangkok beggars by the inimitable Stickman.
Your shiny dome, and shiny ora’ she must be a mental case to forget Greg the Legend
There used to be a one legged beggar behind the sheltered bus stop near Sukhumvit Soi 20.
Walking by one day (being tall) I noticed something on the roof of the bus shelter – I stopped and looked – it was his prosthetic leg which he removed for “work” then at the end of the shift he popped it back on headed into 7/11 for beers then off home.
Didn’t he give me the filthiest look when he saw me looking at his artificial leg not so cleverly concealed – of course in typical fashion I was the ass….
I saw a picture the other day of a blind woman in Bangkok who takes the bus to her corner, sets up her stall and sells sandwiches all day at 20b a pop. Meanwhile these douchebags are milking what could arguably be seen as a much less debilitating disability. Pisses me off.
Greg,
I always enjoy your posts – such a wide variety of topics covered. You must be a magnet for people that have lost their wallets on the bus. You should have gotten on for a bus ride right in front of her.
Scott
Thanks Scott, good idea. Maybe I could start my second job as a wallet collector, make a few extra bucks. 🙂
I was living on Soi sip sam off Sukhumvit road and remember a guy belling crawling on the sidewalk in the pouring rain. This guy was hard core. He had a cup in his hand. I watched him crawl 15 city blocks in the rain. Now if you know BKK then you know the ground is not where you want to be when it’s raining. Hell, you don’t want to be on the ground ever. But this guy was doing his due diligence. He wanted to push the persona that he was paralyzed from the waist down. Guess what? He wasn’t. After 15 blocks he crawled down a soi, got up, walked to a tuk tuk and left. Saw this guy for 2 years doing this. Never wanted to confront him on it. People got to eat… Do what you gotta do to survive.
Yeah, I think you mean the guy in this picture: https://www.gregtodiffer.com/bangkok-beggars-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fake/ I still see him today. A very glass-half-full view is that he figured out a way to turn his disability into a money maker…? Still kinda cheap though.