Stranger offers me a large sum of money

[siliconwafer]

In the parking lot of a grocery store, I was approached by a stranger claiming to be from South Africa. He said that he inherited a large amount of money upon the death of his brother and that he could not take the money back to South Africa. He said that the government would not let him keep it. He pulled out a large sum of money from his bag and told me to keep it. I refused to take the money and told him to keep it. He said that I could give the money to all of the poor people that I see. I still refused his offer and left. His offer sounded to good to be true. The money could have been stolen. I was thinking to myself, "Where's the catch?" Does anyone here have any thoughts about this?

[Sparko]

Sounds fishy to me.

Why would South Africa stop him from bringing the money with him? Why couldn't he give it out to the poor? Did you just make up this story?

[Catholicity]

It sounds like he stole the money from somewhere, took it from a wallet or something else. Good for you for refusing the money. Not to mention if it was a legit issue gentleman could have donated the money to a church or charity of choosing.

[siliconwafer]

Sounds fishy to me.

Why would South Africa stop him from bringing the money with him? Why couldn't he give it out to the poor? Did you just make up this story?

I'm not making it up. I'm telling the truth.

[mossrose]

It's the whole internet email scam thing run amok.

We all need to wear big signs that say "No Soliciting!"

[mossrose]

I'm not making it up. I'm telling the truth.

I think Sparky was saying that the story the guy told you was fishy. And I agree. Why didn't he give the money to the poor? Why didn't he go and deposit it in a bank somewhere for safekeeping? Just too fishy.

[technomage]

I agree with the others--this sounds fishy in the extreme. I think your South African acquaintance was attempting some form of scam.

[KingsGambit]

One possibility, though I'm purely speculating, could be that he stole the money from somewhere, then discovered the bills were marked, so tried to get them in someone else's hands to deflect the blame onto someone else.

[technomage]

One possibility, though I'm purely speculating, could be that he stole the money from somewhere, then discovered the bills were marked, so tried to get them in someone else's hands to deflect the blame onto someone else.

Now, that sounds likely!

[Scrawly]

In the parking lot of a grocery store, I was approached by a stranger claiming to be from South Africa. He said that he inherited a large amount of money upon the death of his brother and that he could not take the money back to South Africa. He said that the government would not let him keep it. He pulled out a large sum of money from his bag and told me to keep it. I refused to take the money and told him to keep it. He said that I could give the money to all of the poor people that I see. I still refused his offer and left. His offer sounded to good to be true. The money could have been stolen. I was thinking to myself, "Where's the catch?" Does anyone here have any thoughts about this?

I don't buy the story he was pushing due to the holes that Sparko pointed out but I would've taken the money regardless (yeah, I'm evil like that). If it turns out that it was attainted through illegal means, well, I would simply tell the cops that a strange man approached me and I was afraid and confused and just did what he said. If it turned out to be an anomaly..well you could have been a rich man technomage

[Sparko]

I'm not making it up. I'm telling the truth.

OK.

by the way I wasn't saying you were lying or anything. I just thought it might be a hypothetical situation you brought up for discussion or something.

[Sparko]

there is also a con, where the conman will give you money, then contrive some reason that you need to hide it immediately (some thieves are coming to rob us!) and then get you to put your wallet with the cash they "gave you" for safe keeping. Then hide it somewhere till save and then hand the envelope and wallet back to you, and leave. Then you look and the envelope is full of newspaper and your wallet is empty.

[Raphael]

Sounds like a variation of a 419 scam. Or the money was dodgy as others mentioned.

If it was an inheritance the SA govt would not stop him bringing it into SA although if was over a certain amount he would have to pay inheritance tax.

I doubt that your govt would stop someone taking their own money out (unless it was tied to criminal activities.)

These South Africans, you just can't trust 'em (excluding yours truly of course i' m very trustworthy)

[siliconwafer]

It sounds like he stole the money from somewhere, took it from a wallet or something else. Good for you for refusing the money. Not to mention if it was a legit issue gentleman could have donated the money to a church or charity of choosing.

He could have donated the money to a charity if it was a legitimate issue.

[siliconwafer]

I should have offered him a ride to the police station.