Gas Can Scam

I was visiting a friend's panhandling blog and a woman wrote a comment about people that panhandle at gas stations. She wanted to know if these guys are legit or just pulling a fast one. I can tell you from experience that 99% of the time this is a scam.

There are guys that do this for a living. They actually drive from gas station to gas station hitting people up for gas money. What they want is money. They don't actually want gas. Let me give you an example. There was this kid I used to panhandle with. We got busted a couple of times for holding a sign too close to the off-ramp. He told me about this gas station scam so I rode along with him a couple of times.

Like I said, he didn't want gas. There were people that would offer to fill up his tank. (This is when gas was somewhat reasonable.) If his tank wasn't empty he would get caught in his lie. There were times when all people would do is offer gas, no cash, and the tank would get full quickly. This would put him in awkward spot if he asked someone for gas money and they offered to give him a few gallons. He would just drive away.

I tried this a few times but the gas station scam was never my thing. It's kind of like cold-calling. I couldn't deal with the rejection. Some people would flip out on me! I also didn't like lying. At least with holding a sign you can choose to give or not give. I'm not in your face.

There are obvious advantages to panhandling at the gas station. You are not a sitting duck. You can hit gas stations at peak hours and move along quickly. If someone tells you to leave or threatens to call the cops you can just move to the next gas station or town. When you are holding a sign you are a sitting duck. The cops can see what you are up to from a mile away. I'm also pretty sure you can make a lot more money doing the gas station scam. That is if you have the balls to pull it off.

I knew a heroin addict that claimed he could make $250 in just a few hours doing the gas can scam. I don't know if it's true but I did see a girl do it one day and she had over $100 in bills she was sorting through in her lap in a car.

If you see a van full of kids claiming to be out of gas, this is a ruse too. My friends and I used to pull this when we were teenagers and needed beer money.

Bottom line, don't fall for it. Once in a blue moon there might be an honest person that really is stranded and out of gas but most of the time this is how they are making a living. If you really want to help someone out, offer to give them gas. Have them pull their car up and you pump the gas. Believe me, if they are lying and their tank is full they will just drive away. If you put $10 on their pump they will pretend they are pumping gas and as soon as you drive away they will go back inside and get the change back.

Verify their story, use common sense, and use your gut instinct, and you won't fall this scam.

Why Lie?

Some people might wonder if all panhandlers lie. From personal experience I can tell you that most do. That doesn't mean everyone does, but most lie.

Do I lie? You better believe I do. Now before you judge me or get angry you might want to know why I lie. I have a life threatening disability. I have end stage kidney failure and I have to do dialysis treatments to stay alive. Most people would be more than happy to help out someone that is legitimately disabled or ill but that's the problem. Nobody would believe me if I told the truth anyways. I have tried, people just look at me like I'm lying. I don't look sick. I look pale but other than that I look healthy as anyone. Some people probably assume I'm a drug addict because I'm so pale. That's not the case but too many idiots have ruined it for those of us that really do need help.

Now for the most part it doesn't really matter what you write on your sign. You could simply write "have a nice day!" and people will give you money. A few years back cops in Seattle set up a sting to catch drivers that weren't wearing their seatbelts. They put an undercover officer posing as a homeless guy with a sign on a sidewalk and when he spotted a driver that wasn't wearing a seatbelt he would point to that car and a marked car would pull that driver over. The officer's sign simply said "Buckle Up." People kept trying to give him money!

Sometimes I get bored or I have to create a new sign because the cops confiscate mine. I have found it hardly matters what you write. Most people just want to help. There are homeless guys that will write "Why Lie, I Need a Beer." People give these guys money. My theory is maybe a different type of crowd gives that guy money and if I'm holding a sign saying "God Bless" maybe a more religious type crowd will give to me. In the end people are either going to give or they're not.

Out on the streets you see all types of guys. As I've talked about before, most panhandlers do lie. I have met panhandlers that aren't even homeless. I knew a guy that would write homeless on his sign but he had a house. He would take his earnings from panhandling and use it to go gamble at night. Another guy said he was an Iraq Veteran and he never served a day in the military. He had the military haircut and clothes to boot. He would take his money and go buy booze at night.

Then there were the two guys that would always give me a hard time when I was panhandling. They were always trying to take my spot. I had no problem sharing my spot but these clowns were scammers. One guy had a fake cast and everything. He even walked with a limp. His buddy would use a cane and hunch over while panhandling. He looked like he could be anyone's grandpa but as soon as he was done for the day he would tuck his cane under his arm, stand up straight, and walk to his car. Both these idiots had an expensive heroin habit. They also both made a lot of money because people felt sorry for them.

I'm sure there are many other scammers just like the ones I told you about. Bottom line is these people ruin it for everyone. Based on my experience alone, I would have to say 75% of the panhandlers you see aren't really homeless.

Do you have to lie to panhandle? I don't know. I guess it all depends. At the end of the day you are the one that has to live with yourself. I once put on my sign that I was a veteran and someone stopped and handed me a $20 bill and said, "Thanks for serving!" I felt like a complete ass. If I do lie I try to be as honest as possible. I don't say I have 5 kids to feed or any bullshit like that.

If you do give to panhandlers it never hurts to check out their story. Any guy that has served is going to be able to answer basic questions about his background. The ones that lie can't even do that. They are usually too stupid to have the correct answers.

Ted Williams 1 Year Later

The "Man With The Golden Voice" Ted Williams is now clean and sober and living in a condo. He has a girlfriend now and making a decent living with that great radio voice of his. He even has a book that recently came out. It's great to see him turn his life around. It's kind of scary how much this dude looks like Obama though...

Panhandling Starter Kit

Some people look down upon panhandling. But at some point it's something you might have to resort to. If you are going to be out there on the road you are going to need a few things to survive. Maybe you are thinking about giving panhandling a try for the first time but you're not sure what you need. Here's what you'll need to get started:

• Sunscreen. I don't care if you are in a sunny climate or cloudy. You are going to want to lather up in sunscreen before you head out. I recommend the highest rating. You are going to be standing out there for hours. Believe me, you'll need it.
• Water. Like Sunscreen, water is essential. You can get dehydrated fast out there.
• Backpack. You are going to need a backpack to carry goody bags and whatnot that people will give you. A medium sized backpack is fine.
• Magic Markers. You will need markers for your sign. Cardboard is everywhere so that shouldn't be a problem. Be sure to bring the markers in case the cops confiscate your sign so you can make a new one on the fly.
• Insect repellent. Depending on the climate you might need a can.
• Snacks. You will get hungry. Bring a few small snacks to tide you over.
• Positive Attitude. This is really important. Don't expect everyone to give you donations. Remember, nobody owes you anything. Every donation is a gift. Take the insults with a grain of salt. Keep a positive attitude out there.

My Homeless Rules

When I was homeless I came up with 30 rules to being homeless, or getting off the streets I should say. I lost the list of rules but I was going through some old emails and I found them. At some point maybe someone that is homeless might stumble upon this blog so I thought I should post these rules. Most of these things are common sense but you would be amazed that most of the time when you become homeless, common sense goes right out the window. I truly believe if you follow these simple rules that you will stay as safe as possible and get yourself off the streets.


1. Be careful who you associate with. Just because you are homeless does not mean you have to mingle with other homeless people all the time. It's not being judgemental, there's a lot of negative energy in this community and it's far too easy to get sucked into that mentality.

2. If you do mingle with the homeless, use them to get valuable information such as when and where you can get a meal, or where you can locate resources that are available to the homeless. Be careful though, some people will you give you the wrong information or lead you in the wrong direction. I don't know if it's just plain ignorance or they just want to mess with you. It's always best to ask more than one person just to be sure.

3. Reality: There are very few homeless people that really want to better themselves or get themselves off the streets. This I know from experience. Hang out with people that will better you, not bring you down. Do not hang with guys that sit around drinking all day and stay clear of anyone that does illegal drugs.

4. Find a safe, quiet place to sleep. This should be one of your first priorities when you become homeless. There are homeless shelters in some cities but don't count on them. Shelters have a lot of negative drawbacks and they are not for everyone. When you find your sleeping spot be sure not to tell anyone where it is unless you know beyond a doubt that you can trust them and that they won't screw up your spot. Keep a low profile. Get up early (before dawn is best) and clean up after yourself. Leave no trace that you were ever there. Pay close attention to the patterns and habits of people that reside or work in the area where you sleep so you can go undetected. Last but not least, make sure your spot is in an area that the local police don't patrol often.

5. This goes back to rule number 4, stay clear of homeless shelters if at all possible. They are notorious for being loud all night and it's really hard to sleep. You will have to follow strict curfews and very negative people. You will also leave yourself more venerable to illnesses. I believe that shelters are not the answer if you want to get off the streets.

6. Get at least 6 solid hours of sleep a night. More if possible. It's very important to get your rest. You will not be able to function properly without the right amount of rest and your mental and reasoning skills will decline rapidly.

7. If you can, get a dog. A dog can be a huge responsibility but it will protect you and wake you up at night if people or wild animals try to attack you while you sleep. A dog also makes a great companion. One major drawback is that the dog may bark at night and give you away.

8. Avoid eating fast food or eating at restaurants. This is a major expense and the food is not very healthy. Fast food will not only drain your wallet but also your energy. Try to buy small quantities of food and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. You want to maintain your health and keep your immune system as strong as possible.

9. As tempting as it might be, do not drink alcohol or do drugs of any kind. This should be common sense but most people can't avoid this pitfall on the streets. This isn't going to solve your problems and will only set you back even further. If you smoke, now is a great time to quit. You will feel much healthier, get sick less often, and save tons of cash.

10. If you don't have a car, buy a used bicycle. This is great exercise and can save you time and money getting from place to place.

11. Join a gym. Try a place like the YMCA or 24Hour Fitness. You will have a place to shower and you can get into shape. Maintain your hygiene. People will judge you based on your appearance and how well you groom yourself. Try to blend in and not appear homeless. This will help you get a job faster and at most gyms the cost comes out to about a buck or less a day.

12. Buy a cellphone. Even if your credit is bad you can at least get a prepaid phone or get on a pay-as-you-go plan. You need a phone so you can apply for jobs and so friends or family can contact you. Cellphones are great in case of an emergency and you don't need minutes to dial 911. Be careful of companies like Metro PCS though. You get what you pay for.

13. Get a PO Box or use a place like Mail Boxes Ect. for your mail. This is a valuable tool.

14. Rent a small storage unit so you don't have to lug all your belongings everywhere. This will help you not appear homeless and you don't have to worry about your stuff getting stolen.

15. If you can't afford a storage unit, find a safe, dry, hidden place for your belongings. Make sure nobody sees you stash your stuff and make sure you don't hide your stuff so well that you can't find it when you return!

16. Locate free or low-cost showers if you can. Try local swimming pools or the YMCA, they don't charge much for a shower. Always know where a clean bathroom with a mirror is. Stay clean. Try to shower at least every other day. Brush your teeth every day.

17. Look for a job every day. Try to spend at least an hour or two every day looking online and applying for jobs. If you are able to work, take whatever you can get. Restaurants jobs are usually easier to get because of the high turnover of employees and you can get great discounts on meals or sometimes even free food! This isn't the time to look for your dream job. Anything is better than drawing a blank.

18. If you must panhandle, then panhandle. Don't be afraid of rejection. Have no fear. Be polite and ask for change with a smile on your face. Make good eye contact. If they say no, still be polite and thank them anyways. Remember, nobody owes you anything. Be grateful for what you do get. Try holding a sign if you are willing.

19. Make friends with people that are not homeless. Hang out with people that have positive attitudes. Cut out anyone that is negative or that sucks the energy out of you. You are better off without them. Get rid of toxic friends. They are like a cancer.

20. Join a church even if you're not religious. Not only will make some good friends but it's good to have faith in a higher power when you are going through tough times. Try to pray every day and every night. You might feel better.

21. Join some websites such as meetup.com or couchsurfing.org. Make some friends that you have some common interests with.

22. The library is your friend. Use it. It is a warm, dry, safe place to hang out. Most have internet service for free. If you have a laptop, use their free wifi. While you are there you can search for jobs, look for local resources, or even just learn something new. They always have a copy of the local paper for free to look at. If nothing else, expand your mind. Read a good book, (the library is known to have books, who knew?) Remember, be respectful at the library and never sleep there.

23. Stay dry. There is nothing worse than being homeless and being soaking wet. Follow the weather and know what's coming so you can prepare.

24. Buy a cheap sleeping bag. Walmart has some (40 degree rating) that are just $9.99. Make sure you buy one that will work for the climate you're in.

25. Like Kenny Rogers said "Know when to fold 'em, know when to run." Sometimes you just have to cut your losses and move on. If what you are doing just isn't working out don't be afraid to try something new or travel to a new place if possible. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help.

26. Always try to stay positive. It's hard to do in tough times but it's probably the single most important trait you can have out there. Your attitude will make or break you. When shit hits the fan, turn off the fan. You have to want to get out of this situation bad enough.

27. Save money. I don't care what you make. Save at least 50% of everything you make. This shouldn't be that hard since you are homeless and don't have rent to pay. Don't touch your savings unless it's absolute emergency or it's for a permanent place to live.

28. Don't get too comfortable on the streets. It's easier to do than you think.

29. Set goals for yourself. It doesn't matter how big or small these goals are. Make daily goals as well as weekly goals. Set your sights on something ahead and aim for it.

30. Refer to these rules daily. You don't have to follow every rule I have here. Maybe you have some of your own that you want to add for yourself. Whatever you do, follow some sort of rules and pull yourself together. When you become homeless your confidence fades quickly. Don't sink too low.