It’s Giving Tuesday and people are in a generous mood, but state police are urging residents not to give money to people who approach you in a rest area and give a story about why they need money.
“(They're) saying that they ran out of gas, they don’t have enough money for gas, they need to make a phone call, their phone battery is dead, can I borrow some money so that I can make a phone call – 9 out of 10 times, that is a scam,” said Connecticut State Police spokesperson, Kelly Grant.
Several people have contacted Connecticut State Police recently to report strangers approaching them at rest areas along Interstates 95 and 84 and on the Wilbur Cross and Merritt Parkway.
State police urge you not to give money to people who ask for money under questionable circumstances and to decline the request and continue on with your own travel.
“It is fairly secluded there aren’t necessarily going to be a lot of people at a rest area so panhandlers, scammers who do this they know what times of day are the perfect times of day when there’s not going to be a lot of people around to witness what is going on,” said Grant.
If you feel threatened in any way, call 911.
Anyone wishing to help people in need is urged to check www.charitywatch.org, www.charitynavigator.org or www.givewell.org or www.guidestar.org to find reputable organizations and their ratings.
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State Police is also urging people not to donate over the phone or to solicitors who appear at your door and avoid donating through Western Union or other money transfer systems.
