Witnessed a man hustling someone yesterday out of who knows what (probably money as the same has happened to me!). The hustler always carries a black bodega grocery bag and will swerve into the path of oncoming pedestrians, spilling whatever half-opened container of liquid is in the bag as dramatically as possible, then immediately starts arguing about fault and compensation. When it happened to me (earlier this year), he told me it was a premium of liquor that costs more than $50 and asked to be compensated, and even made mention of of a gun as I walked back toward my apartment. In that instance, I knew I was being hustled and told him outright that I didn't believe him, but he mentioned a gun so I just played along gave him $40 because I was on my way from work and just wanted to go home. Well, it looks like he struck again yesterday at about 8 PM on the corner of Empire and Nostrand near the bus stop. The man looks to be in his mid-40's, dark complexion, probably at least 6ft (taller than me and I'm almost 6 ft), and is likely living somewhere along Nostrand Ave. Is this hustle news to anyone? Several locals seemed to look on yesterday and one even uttered "Should someone tell him?", so it seems like some people were already aware.
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All of us ended up walking to a liquor store about eight blocks away because I refused to just go to an ATM and give him cash. On the way there, a car slowed down and the dude in the car knew the guy and clearly knew what was up, because when we got to the liquor store, the car dude was waiting for us.
On the walk I said to the guy, "Listen, I think you're hustling me but if I really did bump into you, I'm sorry because that sucks and I understand and feel bad," and he was like "Hey man, it's cool," and then when I finally bought him the bottle I said, "Here. But, let me say something: if you are just taking me across here, I hope you feel bad about it, because I'm trying to just have a good time and go to dinner with my friends and that's super shitty."
That's when he informed me that he actually had TWO bottles in his bag and I should buy him a second one and I said, "Fuck you, you asshole," and we walked away.
I sincerely hope I see him again, because I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. Unless someone here confirms that he has a gun. But I'm sure he doesn't, because he's just some shitbag hustler and doesn't actually want to shoot anyone.