There's a guy, an American, about 35 YOA, tall, balding, brown eyed, who preys on tourists by telling them a tale of woe, often involving having been robbed and needing money, in which he portrays himself a victim. Generous people hand over cash, in response. I personally witnessed someone had him 100 pesos. He's very active, and you can find him on the routes to and from the bus station, or to Market 28; or on Yaxchilan, or near Walmart. He invariably approaches people with the question, "Do you speak English?" Do NOT give him money. This is how he makes his living, here. He damages Cancun's reputation with his daily repeated stories of crimes perpetrated against him, while he himself continues to practice his fraud on unsuspecting tourists. He's back in Cancun, now, after an absence of many months.
Guess I better find something else to keep me entertained next time I come down. Pan handlers seem to be everywhere you look. After a while the stories all seem the same to me.
Nothing new! He was at Plaza Las Americas a couple of weeks ago. Same pitch. Nothing new really, same thing when we were here in 2006, "lost wallet" "stolen wallet" and need bus fare back to Playa Del Carmen hotel. Anything to avoid working for a living.
I have actually run into a panhandler here in Calgary I didn't mind giving a couple bucks to. His tactic was to tell you corny jokes rapidfire until you told him to hit the bricks or gave him a little change. If they want my money they better entertain me.
Begging or entertaining for money is one thing.. lying and scamming people is another... we had a big long thread about this guy and a female accomplice some time ago.. I guess he moved over to Playa for a while or something when the money dried up here... V is right that he's damaging the tourism here.. just think how many people returned home to tell the story of a poor stranded American who was (insert horror story here) while in Cancun on vacation when in fact he's just a disgraceful scam artist exploiting people's Desire to help others.
His rap includes "Thank God" if you answer yes to the "Do you speak English?" question. He is from Picayune, Mississippi. He got my friends and I in the grocery parking lot across from the bus station maybe 5 years ago. $200 pesos. If approached the thing that puts him underground quickly seems to be to tell him that you have heard of him and are going to stop a policeman and have him reported to Immigration. We suspect he is "wanted" in Ms as a few months after the first time I saw him, he tried me again in a downtown paper store. I asked if he was from Picayune and he got paranoid and left quickly. He used to work with a lady but told someone she died. Have not hear from him or about him in well over a year. Be aware.
