In Reply to: What would you do? posted by Baldie on Friday, 30. March 2007 at 08:20 Bali Time:
to date, and must say we agree with the contents of all of them! It is easy to imagine ('cause you want to) that your friend is indeed genuine, so you naturally want to help. Sadly, other posters are correct, it might become an ongoing thing. I have also had experience with the dying father, the kid with a broken leg (who was actually seen by another friend 2 days later playing soccer..LOL) plus the genuine ones who actually are very embarrassed to ask, and normally would not ask.
If you feel you need to, send $50.00 (and via western union this will cost around $22.00) also sending an sms message giving the transaction number, and explaining that this is all you have available at this time. That eases your conscience, gives ur friend some money, and then you have to hope it is a once off, rather than the first of many! At the end of the day, if it is genuine, you have helped, if it is a little scam, it has cost you the price of a dinner at a the restaurant you go to... either way, not earth shattering!
In closing I would also say that it is quite possible that this friend could easily have several other "friends" who received the same message. Sadly, I have seen the Bali boys (and girls) crying real tears at departure, swearing undying love and loyalty, and as soon as she/he goes thru check in, they wave a tearful goodbye and then they hurry round to arrivals to meet the next "true love"... it is called 'living'...