Several years ago, my husband and I took a weekend trip to Chicago. I had only been to the city once and my husband had never been, so we were pretty new to the art of traveling by public transit. It was our anniversary and we had reservations at a nice Italian restaurant. And before we knew it we were lost and running late. What we didn’t yet realize was just how naive we were to all the ways people have been scammed when finding themselves in situations just like ours.

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So, when a stranger on the street offered to help us get where we were going, we accepted his kind offer. As it turned out, the restaurant had been right around the corner from where we were. Unfortunately, this stranger wasn’t a good samaritan, and wanted to make a little cash. We weren’t carrying any cash and told him as much, but he continued to follow us, screaming all the to the front door of the restaurant and through the first ten minutes of our meal from outside. After retelling the story to a friend, we realized that this is a really common scam pulled on tourists and that we had nearly fallen for it. From then on, we were very careful about accepting unsolicited help while traveling.

Unfortunately, scammers are really prevalent. Between hackers trying to steal private information on the internet, over-the-top Craigslist scams, and wild phone calls claiming the IRS is suing you, it kind of feels like the next scam is always right around the corner. And these 14 Reddit users have been kind enough to divulged the most embarrassing and bizarre ways that they have been scammed.

1. Anything for Family

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Most of us would go to the ends of the earth to help out the people we love.

Her love for her family is exactly why the grandma of Reddit user BaconandMegz almost found herself the victim of a major scam. Apparently, she received a phone call saying her granddaughter had been arrested and she needed to wire over $4,000 in bail money. I’m so glad she didn’t fall for this trick!

Targeting older adults is actually one of the most common ways people have been scammed, and such a scam is currently making its rounds.

According to NBC, fake kidnappers are calling up parents and telling them they have their child and need them to wire ransom money right away. It’s all a ruse. There is no kidnapping, just deceitful thieves who hope they can get away with money because the parents are in a panic.

2. A Very Expensive Ride

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After a little too much to drink, this Vegas tourist got caught up in the scamming ways of two girls.

It’s hard to think with a level head when you’ve been drinking, and it doesn’t help if you find yourself being flirted with at the same time. I feel bad for this Reddit user, who got stuck with a WAY overpriced cab ride when the girls disappeared as soon as they arrived at their destination. The moral of the story: think twice before agreeing to split the bill with strangers.

3. Fresh Out of College

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New grads are anxious to get that first job and start making money, but should be careful about opportunities that seem too good to be true.

Reddit user huazzy had just graduated when they were approached about a job with Primerica. Owned by the Citi Group, this opportunity required huazzy to shell out hundreds of dollars in training and start-up fees, and then start recruiting friends and family. They didn’t fall for the scam, but felt so bummed after getting their hopes up!

4. A Good Cause

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When a high school friend tugged at their heartstrings, this generous Reddit user couldn’t say no.

Unfortunately, the friend’s story that she needed money for her little sister’s cancer treatment was completely false. This type of deceit is SO messed up considering how many people actually have cancer and are truly struggling to pay for their treatments. I hope they got their money back or at least exposed her lies before she stole from someone else.

5. Their Big Break

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A night out turned into a major disappointment.

While out with a friend smoking hookah, Reddit user eDgAR made a new friend who claimed to work for a local radio station. The new friend then went on to convinced them that he could get them a prime radio spot and that all they needed to do was pay him $35 to reserve the spot. The “friend” then agreed to meet them the next day to go over the details, but never showed up.

6. Should Have Read the Guidebook

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Tourists are often targeted for scams, so it’s a good idea to be extra cautious while away from home.

This Reddit user lost major cash after falling for a pretty common scam used to target travelers to Thailand. They were tricked into going to a very specific shopping area, then they were measured for custom clothing that ended up costing $1,500 and topped it all of by buying a fake gemstone. I feel terrible for this traveler, but I also can’t help but wonder why they didn’t just walk away when they realized how much they were being charged?

7. Too Helpful

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It’s so frustrating that being generous and empathetic can put you at risk of being taken advantage of, and that is exactly what happened to this Reddit user.

When they got stopped by someone who claimed to be an out-of-towner who said her fiance was in the hospital and that she needed help getting there, this Reddit user was happy to help. Unfortunately, they went round and round about directions and when she asked for money for the bus ticket, it didn’t cross their mind that this had just been a tricky way to get some extra cash all along.

8. A Convenient Accident

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After finding himself short $15, this driver suspects his car accident was a setup.

Since he had very carefully checked before backing out of his parking lot, Reddit user watchandlisten was surprised when he backed right into an old pick-up truck. The driver was so understanding, saying his truck was in bad shape so it didn’t really matter. When he asked for $15 bucks for gas and then sped off, it all seemed like a too convenient accident.

9. Keep the Change

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Sometimes a helpful stranger is looking for more than a smile and a thank you.

A friend of Reddit user zoaliz learned that the hard way when she accepted a stranger’s offer to help her buy a ticket while her hands were full. The stranger didn’t even ask, he just told her he was keeping the change and walked off. It sounds like he’s probably pulled that scam before! Hopefully she still got her ticket!

10. Sellers Beware

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The moral of this sad scam? Anytime you sell online, make the trade face-to-face.

When this Reddit user wanted to trade his Airsoft gun online, he walked away without the money he was owed and never got the gun back. Instead, the buyer claimed the gun didn’t work and refused to pay for it. And for some reason, he wasn’t even willing to send the “broken” gun back. Seems very suspicious!

11. A Paypal Dispute

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As many online sellers have learned, Paypal almost always sides with the buyer in a dispute.

This Reddit user learned this lesson the hard way when trying to sell their World of Warcraft account for extra cash. They were only 15 years old at the time and $350 was a tempting offer. The money arrived in the Paypal account and the seller handed over the log-in info only to find the buyer filed a Paypal dispute and got every cent of the money back. Ouch, this has to be one of the more expensive ways people have been scammed.

12. Surfer Tax

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Travelers should be careful about how much cash they carry with them when they travel abroad.

According to this Reddit user, they were pulled over while driving in Mexico and asked for $50. Other commenters confirm that this is a pretty common practice and one even calls it a “Surfer’s Tax.” Their advice? Pay the “fine,”  but be sure to keep no more than a $20 on you to avoid getting totally scammed during a traffic stop.

13. Two-Times Gullible

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This Reddit user isn’t afraid to admit that they are way too trusting of others.

Because of their trusting nature, user Peirush_Rashi got scammed two times in a very similar way. Once, while walking around their neighborhood, they approach someone who looked like they were lost and asked if they needed help. The scammer said yes, that he was from out of town  and that his metro cards were empty. It wasn’t until the next week, when they saw the very same guy asking for metro card money again, that Peirush_Rashi realized they had been scammed.

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The second scam for Peirush_Rashi is so similar to the last, it is almost funny.

While walking around their neighborhood, they were approached by a man trying to buy formula for his baby. Peirush_Rashi offered to take him to the store and pay for the formula but the man said the nearest store was 12 blocks away. So, this very generous and gullible Reddit user forked over some cash and saw the same fellow with the same “problem” in the same neighborhood two years later!

14. Null and Void

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When buying a new car, this Reddit user fought hard for a good deal only to learn they got scammed.

While arguing with the manager over paying a dealership fee, this car buyer finally settled on free oil changes as a compromise for paying the fee. Unfortunately, when they showed up for the first oil changed they learned the contract was null because the dealership was under new ownership.

No one likes being scammed, but at least after reading about these ways people have been scammed we know some of the red flags to look out for.

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