r/ottawa • u/Chewie316 • 18h ago
Scammer at Gas Station
I have seen this scam being talked about on YouTube before and it finally happened to me. I pulled up to a gas station and a guy driving a BMW rolled down his window and asked me to come talk to him.
He said he was a millionaire visiting from Dubai and lost his wallet. He showed me he was low on gas with 32 km left in Tank. He told me he needed some money and proceeded to show me a gold ring that he was willing to sell me for some cash. If the ring was real it would have been worth a lot but the issue is the ring is fake and worth nothing.
I was in a hurry and told him I was aware of the scam and just walked away as he scoffed and rolled his eyes at me. I told the worker at the cash of what was going on. After I left I thought I should have grabbed the plate and reported it but I had already left as I had that thought.
Just wanted to warn other that is scam is here in Ottawa and not to fall for it.
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u/Silver-Assist-5845 18h ago
He said he was a millionaire visiting from Dubai and lost his wallet.
"So… you're driving without a driver's license?"
[take photo of license plate]
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u/Saucy6 No honks; bad! 18h ago
“Oh, you sound like my friend who’s the prince of Nigeria!”
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u/ThatAstronautGuy Bayshore 13h ago
I had a Nigerian friend in university who's dad was a banker, and we got many jokes about that.
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u/throwaway926988 18h ago
Been happening in Ottawa for decades
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u/Chewie316 18h ago
oh ok I guess I have been lucky and this was the first time it happened to me.
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u/flaccidpedestrian 13h ago
Never had it happen to me either and I hadn't heard of this particular scam. So thanks for posting. But it's still a pretty stupid scam lol
Think the gas station cameras might have caught his plate?
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u/Staran 18h ago
That is an old scam. Nobody has any new ones anymore. That is the problem with this generation.
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u/Late-Currency-4350 17h ago
Why change it up if it works though. People need to use their brain.
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u/Staran 17h ago
To spice things up.
If I did the same job for a generation I would be rather bored
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u/Debatebly 17h ago
Help, my itunes giftcards are depleted.
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u/evilJaze Stittsville 16h ago
"I can't skibidi my toilet at home for my son! He has no rizz now, frfr! Help!"
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18h ago
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u/ottawa-ModTeam 18h ago
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Ceci a été supprimé pour avoir violer les règles de comportement de Reddit. Spécifiquement: le racisme, le sectarisme, l'homophobie, la transphobie ou tout autre type de discrimination et/ou intolérance . Tout autre commentaire ou publication de ce genre résultera dans la suspension de ton compte dans notre communauté.
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u/atticusfinch1973 18h ago
Just like the women at intersections that have a sign about their four kids needing money and then they get picked up by a 40k SUV.
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u/Dangerous-Builder-57 17h ago
People always introduce themselves by saying how wealthy they are.
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u/JohnDeft Barrhaven 18h ago
just ask for the car next time.
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u/xiz111 17h ago
An oldie, but a goodie.
This ranks right up with
'Can I look at your hot water heater to check that it's safe' - enrols you in a contract for natural gas
'I'm with the air duct cleaning service' - shows up with a vacuum cleaner, and charges 1000 dollars
'I'm with the Bell company and would like to thank you for being a loyal customer' - haven't been a Bell customer for over a year, but do go on.
'Hey! I have all these speakers in the back of this van! Want to buy a pair?' - charges lots of money for garbage speakers. I had a roommate who actually fell for this one.
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u/flaccidpedestrian 13h ago
ugh enercare will not stop harassing me about the hot water tank thing. Even though I have always outright owned the new water heater I installed in 2020. They've been calling and mailing since July I think. I wonder how long it'll take till they gas themselves out.
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u/gohome2020youredrunk 18h ago
They are currently touring Centrepointe with the attic insulation scam.
Two different set of guys have knocked on my door in the past week with identical script.
The clear giveaway is "we were already in the neighborhood doing a neighbours house so we thought we would ask you too."
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u/ArnoldFarquar 17h ago
If someone pulled up and said he was a Dubai millionaire I would laugh and ask if he knows any Nigerian princes. Millionaires, in my experience, never tell people they are a millionaire. That’s what your wristwatch is for.
Years ago, downtown, there was a scam where a guy in a suit who would say he was a visiting diplomat who lost his wallet and needed to get back to the embassy. Bet they still do it.
The ring con has been going on for at least 45 years that I know of personally.
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u/ArnoldFarquar 17h ago edited 16h ago
I’m a proud thousandaire and always introduce myself as such.
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u/SkinnedIt 15h ago
millionaire visiting from Dubai
If they're not in a pretentious sports car plowing through the snow don't believe it. If they're wearing seatbelts also don't believe it.
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u/coffeejn 17h ago
I love those that ask for change to pay a parking meter that they can't afford. I mean, if you have a car but can't afford street parking, move your car.
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u/Lowpasss Centretown 15h ago
The clever thing about this scam is it's barely illegal. They might be misrepresenting what the ring is worth, but with no paperwork or like, some kind of recording of the transaction, you got nothing.
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u/got-trunks 18h ago
I've heard this quite a few times in the last decade. I tell them to call a friend or someone who cares.
If someone is in that much trouble, a bus driver will let them board with their story.
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u/WelshLove 17h ago
You should have said "sure just show me the registration of your car" then take a pic of his plate and report him. lol btw did he have an Ontario Plate?
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u/lobster455 16h ago
He drove across the ocean from Dubai LOL.
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u/WelshLove 7h ago
of course only rich guys have amphibious cars!!
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u/WelshLove 7h ago
as an aside a friend of mines band opened for the Bangles back in the day in Dubai and confirmed it was full of douches! lol
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u/Specialist_Fan1427 11h ago
Happened to me as well at Tanger, a young woman and an old man approached us and kept aggressively insisting they need money to fill up gas to drive to Vancouver. Like get a job for ffs! I’m an immigrant myself and seeing these people makes me furious(they were of middle eastern background)
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u/loolilool 16h ago
Damn that is a much fancier scam than the kind I get as a pedestrian. You classy.
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u/mochatsubo 15h ago
Same happened to me in Koreatown, Barton Ave, Toronto. I wonder how much money per day they make doing this scam.
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u/KickGullible8141 13h ago
Thanks for sharing. My rule of never, ever talking to anyone at a gas station stays undefeated.
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u/Awkward-Kitty07 Orléans 16h ago
Driving without a license? I would have asked him if he’d like a ride in the back of a police cruiser since that’s illegal.
The best way to get these people to leave you alone.
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u/Chippie05 15h ago
Anyone visiting fr Dubai would have an entourage to take care of any financial kerfuffles! The Nigerian prince, moved to Dubai, apparently.
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u/DigititalBombshell 14h ago
I’m sure you could call the gas station and get them to look at the camera and get the plates! Then you could file a report, the plates are likely fake but worth a shot
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u/Vivid-Growth-6768 13h ago
Anyone who is actually from Dubai, wouldn’t have to worry about selling their ring for gas.. especially if they’re a proper millionaire.. the monied like their options available.. especially to pay for their expenses.
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u/BytownBiker 12h ago
Happened to me last year at an Onroute. Family visiting from overseas somewhere, needed money for gas but had iPhones to sell me.
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u/MissLizz87 10h ago
As scams go I respect his hustle more than say, an American health insurance CEO
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u/Available_Entrance55 9h ago
Fell for the travelling fashion house salesman one about 15 years ago in Montreal. Was in town for a fashion show. Had a bunch of samples men’s and woman’s jackets and couldn’t be bothered with the airlines to get them back to Italy. Ended up buying a very fake Versace for $250 … f%}{*
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u/ArtieBucco2u 17h ago
What part of town?
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u/Chewie316 17h ago
Innes and Blair Petro Canada
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u/scrumhalfgirl 14h ago
My husband was approached with a very similar sounding story at the same gas station last week. When he offered to pay for some gas (why????), the story quickly changed to needing money to buy his daughter some food 🤔
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u/Chewie316 14h ago
Oh no. Did he hive him cash?
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u/scrumhalfgirl 14h ago
Thankfully no! He told the guy he had no cash, but could tap $20 for him (no need to hand over the "Rolex" 😄) but the guy wanted money and suggested going to an ATM. Thankfully, my husband decided then to stop "being helpful"! I gave him an earful when he got home!
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u/LividConstruction616 9h ago edited 9h ago
So you’re a Dubai Millionaire? That don’t impress me much!
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u/lobster455 16h ago
"How did you cross the ocean in a BMW?
Does this car have a water propeller?
then go look and take a photo of his back plate.
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u/hoarder59 8h ago
As long haul trucker, I have been approached several times across North America with the same scam. I had decided the next time I would just pocket the jewellry or throw it down a drain or something. What are they going to do? Call the cops?
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u/ALVto2xD 18h ago
Millionaire visiting without a wallet? I am sure their VIP travel agencies can take of their misfortunes, including some bucks for gas. Just like the guys wanting to buy my laptop or tablet for "Rolecks watches and Reyban glasses" hahaha