Refugee/immigrants asking for food down in town?
Right, so I’m a student at uni and it isn’t often that I go down to town but this has happened twice with the same person.
First time I was walking to the train station to go home and on my way, there was a teenage kid who came up to me and asked if I got spare change. Usually, I’d just ignore them but this kid, to me at least, looked like he needed help. So, since I was in a hurry, I pulled out the only thing I had in my wallet, a tenner, and gave it to him. But what surprised me was that he followed me, pretty much chased me and said it was too much. He told me that he only need milk for his two baby sisters. I said to him keep it, because again, it was the only thing I had anyways. So I went.
That happened months ago. But now, I came back to town and encountered him again. He didn’t recognize me, didn’t expect him to, and I didn’t recognize him initially, so he came up to me like he does to everyone else asking if he could get some food for his family. I, again, said sure so we went to Jollibees. Now at this point I was slightly suspicious and paranoid as I usually am but nonetheless told him he could get whatever he wanted for his family despite the fact that I am 900 quid in my overdraft. I asked him some questions and found out that he was Bosniak and that his father was Palestinian and that he wasn’t with them in the UK. Furthermore, his mom was pretty much on her own when she needs to care for 4 children and have a job as a cleaner. He told me that he wanted to get a job at a cornershop or a food stall to support his family as well but I assumed he couldn’t because he said his visa was still under application. When I paid for his order, he called his mom and elder sister over to have the meal with them. I don’t know where the younger sisters are since I thought they had to take care of them or something so I’m still sorta paranoid right now. They seemed really grateful nonetheless, the mom especially, I think at this point the boy felt really bad for asking me for a meal since he kept apologizing. I gave them an extra tenner like last time.
Based on your detailed account of the situation, it’s understandable that you may feel unsure about whether you were scammed or not. It’s always difficult to determine the intentions of someone asking for help, especially in situations involving strangers. In this particular case, the teenage boy’s story about needing money for his family’s food, especially for his younger sisters, sounds plausible and aligns with the struggles that many refugee and immigrant families face.
The fact that he mentioned specific details about his background, such as being Bosniak with a Palestinian father and his mother working as a cleaner, adds a layer of credibility to his story. Additionally, his willingness to have the meal in a public place with his family and the gratitude they showed you afterwards also suggests that they may have genuinely needed help.
However, it’s always important to approach these situations with caution, especially considering the possibility of scams. If you genuinely felt compelled to help and were in a position to do so, then your actions were driven by compassion and kindness. Whether or not you were scammed, your generosity and willingness to help someone in need are commendable.
If you have any concerns or doubts about the situation, you could try reaching out to local organizations or resources that support refugees and immigrants in your area. They may be able to provide guidance on how to best help individuals in need and how to avoid potential scams in the future.
Overall, it’s a difficult situation to navigate, but your intentions were good, and that’s what matters the most. It’s important to listen to your instincts and approach similar encounters with compassion, but also with caution.