In Reply to: What would you do? posted by Baldie on Friday, 30. March 2007 at 08:20 Bali Time:
I have read your post and all the followup posts. Thanks for all the opinions posted because this is exactly what I had been wanting to ask, but felt that maybe I was just getting a bit cynical in my old age.
We became friendly with one of the hotel staff members last year and he told us his wife was sick and had needed several operations costing him 6 million rupiah each time. He said he borrowed the money. (The details were a bit vague because of the language barrier, but the word oncologist was mentioned so we presumed it was cancer). When we left to come home we gave him a very small amount ($20) of leftover Aussie cash. However, about 2 months later got an email very simply stating his wife was sick again, needed another op and could we "borrow me money" which he said he would repay as soon as he could. We were surprised to be asked for money but sent $250 and explained we were not rich people but would do our best to help. Have since twice sent him another $100 but I was finding having to pay the $30 bank fees each time were expensive so was looking into other ways of getting money to him without the huge fees. I have now had another email asking if we can help him get a job in Australia because of the dire economic situation in Bali. Have basically said "No" but let him down gently on that one.
In the last few weeks I have just had an annoying niggling feeling that he may not be as genuine as I believed him to be. I am going to Bali again in 3 weeks and had intentions of quietly checking out his stories more thoroughly before we handed over any more monetary assistance. I hope he is genuine, but I am a little sceptical and so these posts have been very timely.