Jennifer Hart, or whatever her name is, is back. She got me at 15th and K St NW. Car accident, moved from Atlanta, has cancer, needs cab fare to get back to Charles County, MD to pick up her daughter from daycare. Cries and shakes and tells you she'll get you money back next day. Feel like an idiot. I should know better. If you get caught, call the MPD Financial Crimes Unit at (202) 727-4159.
"Jennifer Hart" is maybe late 40's, heavy set (size 18 to 20), perhaps 5'6" tall. Hair is pulled up onto head in a chignon, and she is using a cane at this point. If she approaches, tell her you will help her find a police office. Don't get suckered like me.
The woman 'Adele' pretended that she got into a car accident, was from Atlanta, was a social worker, and needed money to go back home to her daughter. I gave her $160 for a cab ride home. I was leaving my office in Ballston when she got a hold of me. She even asked if I would go to the ATM for her. I called her today because we were going to do an exchange and the phone is turned off. I feel stupid but I was trying to do the right thing by helping a stranger out. Sucks that I was just being naive and there are some people out there who just are scammers. AVOID!!!!
Exact same thing happened to me except in person at Metro Center. Said she was pregnant and got into a car accident etc. etc. Luckily just dropped her a $20 before running away. I spent an hour with her looking for cabs and asking people at hotels how she can get back to Stafford.
Okay..same thing.. On Friday, Feb 22, 2013, around 7 pm, I got the same story from a Jennifer Matthews. I was just inside the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station. Told me she got in a car accident, missed the VRE and the slug lines, needed to get back to Stafford to pick up her kid from daycare. She was new in town, just moved from Atlanta. She was good, had tears and everything. I gave her $80. She wanted me to get money out of the ATM machine, but I refused. I've been here for twenty years and never been scammed. First time for everything. The one number I call just rings and rings and rings -- 202-727-1800. And the number 571-296-3544 is turned off. Just call me a sucker. My friends are going to tease me for some time about this one.
Darn, this happened to me too. She said her name was Jessica Mathew and worked at a law firm, just moved here from North Carolina. She was VERY convincing. Sobing and shaking saying she had just gotten in a car accident (and there really was a car being towed away). I sat there talking with her for about 40 minutes before I gave her money. She said she had to get a cab home but luckily I didn't give her too much. 571-296-3544 does not work.
Wow, this person is quite the actress. "Jessica" said she just moved here from Atlanta. She was so distressed - she had just been in a terrible drunk driving accident but thankfully had been unhurt - and I believed her because there were police cars down the road at what seemed to be an accident. She went on to tell me how she was two hours from home, had a four year old daughter to get to, and needed money for a cab. And she even had the audacity to act so thankful when I said I'd help her out; she hugged me repeatedly and called me her "little sister." Oh, and she mentioned that her father had just passed away. Using people's emotions against them...that's pretty frickin' messed up.