It seems that many forums over the internet have some type thread like this - But surprisingly not here... Therefore I'm starting it, in the hope of spreading awareness - So that we don't ever become victims. It happened just half an hour ago, I almost got entrapped at the Bank. It was pure luck that presence of mind kicked in at the right moment. Or it could have been really bad for me right now. What happened is that it's the end of the year, so not wanting to pay a penalty later -I decided to renew all my firearms licenses now, (for the next year ahead). NBP (National Bank of Pakistan) is the only official government owned operated Bank which does all such activities, (from collecting property tax to traffic fines and everything else in between). Therefore this cannot be avoided. Unless you hire an agent to do all this legwork for you, for a fee of course, (which I'll never do as I'm not comfortable with someone else handling my paperwork with my sensitive details on it)... Anyway, I got into the line, there were around a dozen people ahead of me, and soon enough there now were half a dozen people behind me. So after around a wait of 40 minutes, just as I reached the cashier to do my thing - Another guy from nowhere approached me from the side, cutting the line, (pretending to be in a hurry). And said: Please can you do me a favor? I'm in a big hurry, give this money to the cashier (waving a big fat bundle of thousand Rupee bills under my nose) - Please have them converted to five thousand Rupee bills. Now I could have easily done this small favor for him. It would have taken only a minute. But presence of mind kicked in immediately. So I said in a loud voice making sure that everyone could hear me: This is your money, I cannot touch it. There are security cameras all around. Please go to the back of the line and wait your turn. He realized that I was annoyed. So he said sorry, and vanished... What I suspect could have happened. Is that the cashier would have returned him the money, (exchanging smaller bills for larger ones) - Whereupon he might have screamed, that there are a few thousand Rupees missing. After which he would have accused me of stealing, as I would have touched that bundle of cash. Who knows really, maybe he might have had his partners in the line behind me. Who now would have said, yes we saw him do it... I mean who knows what could have happened at that time??? Yes there are security cameras, but what if they were pointed at the cashier and not at where my hands were. Or what if on this occasion that particular camera might not be working. Maybe the bank's staff was in on it? Who knows??? I could have stood my ground and demanded that the police be called. However over here 9 times out of 10, police and criminals are like a hand and glove... That's why majority of the people would have agreed to pay whatever it took. Just to get out of such a socially embarrassing situation - Which is exactly what these types of con artists thrive upon. But presence of mind I think saved me today. Although I'm still not sure if it indeed was a con, or was that person genuinely in a hurry? And that's the thing, you hardly ever spot a good con artist. Therefore at the risk of sounding rude, I just couldn't take the chance. So anyway, what's your story? You ever got swindled by anyone? Or know someone who had such a bad experience? Let's share so we can spread awareness.
