SCAM ALERT - Back Bay Station

WARNING FOR PEOPLE WHO USE BACK BAY STATION:

We know this is a long weekend, and with the nice weather everyone from the suburbs is streaming in to enjoy it.

Our experience involved a casually dressed young woman, white, slightly chubby about the mid-to-older 20s, asking us for change at the Station News Store.

When we responded by walking briskly away, she sneered, "go ahead, run away." Then she tried to approach us, AGAIN, until we shouted in a loud voice why she would be begging for change in a store. We actually repeated it twice so the cashier(s) could hear us and get attention, as it looked like there was another taller man accompanying her.

Had it been the Spare Change Guy, he would have simply gone onto the next person to give him change. Had it been another homeless person, many would simply say, "God Bless," even if you didn't have the money. When a damsel in distress says "go ahead, run away," and then attempts to approach you a second time, perhaps with a few accomplices, it's a sign that she's looking to help herself to a lot more than your change - and perhaps use her accomplices for compliance.

This is a scam. If you are ever approached by a person for help, and something isn't kosher or makes you very uncomfortable, say nothing, leave quickly, and contact the police. Put as much distance between you and the person as feasibly possible. If possible, attract attention to your situation so the proper authorities can be contacted.

We want to put this out as a public service, as we could have very well been robbed, or worse, injured. Tourists to the Boston area deserve to be as safe as possible, and we want to make sure they leave here with a good impression - not one where Boston is a place where scammers relieve them of their wallets and our good image.