I just had a weird encounter and I'm wondering whether I responded as I should have.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

I was in my car, just about to pull out of the parking lot in a small strip mall, when a woman tapped on my window. She was middle-aged and had a lot of lipstick on her teeth but was otherwise unremarkable. When I rolled down the window she said she needed help because she had been out of work for weeks and had no money. I said I was sorry I couldn't help because I had no cash (which was true; I almost never carry cash any more). Then she said she wasn't looking for cash but wanted me to go to Starbucks with her and buy her a latte and a gift card (there wasn't a Starbucks in that mall, though there was another coffee shop). I thought that was pretty odd and started to wonder whether she was trying to pull some kind of a scam, since if I had no money at all, one of the last things I would be begging strangers for would be a latte and a Starbuck's gift card - despite my caffeine addiction. So I declined again and drove off.

Was I too mean and suspicious, or do you think my tingling spidey-sense was correct?

[mbusby]

1. It was a scam....

...you did the right thing.

[Glorfindel]

2. Your tingling spidey-sense was correct

You responded correctly. Better safe than sorry!

[vlyons]

3. No, you paid attention to the little red flag in your head

Better safe than sorry.

[elleng]

4. You were reasonably suspicious.

[fleur-de-lisa]

5. I would have responded the same.

I would have given her some cash if I was carrying it, but buy her a gift card? Nope.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. What I haven't figured out yet is what the scam might have consisted of.

[Afromania]

7. No, you did right.

[Croney]

8. To go to Starbucks she would have had to get in your car.

Then your problems would have really begun.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. That's what I was thinking - if she'd wanted a latte for real

we'd have gone on foot to the coffee shop in the strip mall. I should have suggested that and I'd have known for sure it was a scam if she'd insisted on Starbucks. But I just wanted to get away, the vibes weren't right. No way would I ever let a stranger get into my car.

[DonaldsRump]

9. That you asked whether you did the right thing

...means you're very kind.

That you drove off means you're also very wise!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Thanks - I was feeling kind of guilty, but I guess I shouldn't.

[ADX]

12. Always, always, ALWAYS...

...pay attention to that little warning light that goes on in these types of situations because it can save your life; ignore it at your own peril.

If you haven't done so yet, get a copy of "The Gift Of Fear" by Gavin DeBecker and read it. In the meantime, stay safe...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. I have "The Gift of Fear." Read it years ago.

Maybe that helped raise that little red flag.

[ADX]

14. Then you already instinctively know you did the right thing...

...That could have been a mere scam attempt or it could have been a ruse to get you out of your car so you could be abducted and taken to a secondary crime scene.

Never allow your desire to be generous or helpful to over-ride that inner alarm/warning - NEVER.

[Niagara]

15. You did the right thing

Sometimes these people don't work alone.

I would report this encounter to your local police department. It may not be anything to worry about, but one never knows.

[Hoyt]

16. Think you did right thing. Years ago, I had to work late on Christmas Eve. This guy came in

and gave me a sorrowful story about a fire at his house, no money, kids without presents, etc. I knew it probably wasn't true, but it was Christmas Eve and with the thought I might be wrong, I gave him what I had -- about $20.

Years later, I was working in a town about 120 miles away. I swear to you, the same guy caught me on the street, with the same story. This time I said sorry.

In your case, the Starbucks gift card just doesn't sound right. If she'd said, "take me to Kroger and buy me a gift card so my family can eat," I might have thought about it.

[wasupaloopa]

17. That happened to me and I picked up the woman but found she was mentally ill and would not leave my

car. I had to cal 911 to get some help. Then she got out and started hitting me. She walked off and I told 911 she had left. They asked me to describe her and I felt they knew who she was.