Con artist in the hood.

thekid · February 2008

hey there-
just wanted everyone to know about this dude in the neighborhood who's telling this sob story for your dollars. i've heard run into him twice and his story is always something like this. he's a cameraman for nbc. his mom had a stroke and got into an accident on eastern parkway. took out a few cars. the cops came. called him a "black (n-word)." he called his nbc crew and there's going to be a news report of this injustice tonight. he maxed out his credit cards to get his mom to the hospital. but he's $15 dollars short. his nbc cameraman insurance only covers his wife and kids. so could he have $15?

yeah.

so anyhow -- watch out for this tall tale.

jeffrey · February 2008

See this prior thread from 3 years ago, same fella working the same tired story.

There is actually a picture of him floating around somewhere, IIRC.

I think people said he went by the name Michael Walters.

Ring any bells?

sweet tea · February 2008

he was somebody or another oliver when i met him. it's on the crown heights board somewhere.

his poor mother! does the DMV just renew her license automatically, oor what?

jeffrey · February 2008

sweet tea wrote: he was somebody or another oliver when i met him. it's on the crown heights board somewhere.

his poor mother! does the DMV just renew her license automatically, oor what?

DING! Aaaaand we have a winnahhhhh...

Open Letter to Oliver Harris, Neighbor

ProHo Gaffler strikes again?

And the pic:

Thanks for the memory jog, sweet tea.

You may now claim your prize of one month's supply home heating oil, as long as you can wrest your drum of it it from that weird, gangly dragon critter.

liftandcut · February 2008

"Con artist" might be a little extreme. There are thousands of people in this city who go to great lengths to convince people to give up a few bucks. It's just a question of how creative an individual is.

pitu · February 2008

liftandcut wrote: "Con artist" might be a little extreme. There are thousands of people in this city who go to great lengths to convince people to give up a few bucks. It's just a question of how creative an individual is.

what, you think this guy hasn't gone pro?
or just doesn't rise to the level of artistry expected of today's con men?

triple fabulous points to jeffrey for the links and photo

liftandcut · February 2008

I just don't think that it's such a big deal. It's nothing new for NYC.

valariel · February 2008

Subject: Wow...

Very unique story... and who would fall for that one???

anfield · February 2008

There's a new guy around too. Twice last week, bet. around 8am both days, I saw the same guy in altercations with cab drivers on Prospect bet. Vand & U'hill. Apparently his MO seems to be he gets out of the cab on Flatbush heading towards the bridge and then tells them he needs to get money from his friend and starts walking the opposite way on Prospect. Cabbie can't manoeuver his cab and is forced to follow on foot, apparently coatless and phoneless. Fare beater keeps saying just a little bit further hoping to finally shake the cabbie which seems to happen around U'hill. Very short black guy, mid 30's, all in black - work jacket, boots, jeans, wool hat. It's worked at least twice for him but I wouldn't press my luck if I was him. The one Eastern European cabbie threatened to get all "Eastern Promises" on his ass, if you know what I mean.

jimmylegs · February 2008

i can't believe that gaffler guy is still working that tired mom story! only now he's an nbc cameraman. in 2002 he told me he worked for the david letterman show! but the mom story is still the same. oh well, i guess you find material that works and stick to it. works for jay leno.

Con artist in the hood.

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