tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409814846400976038.post4044732385450310693..comments2024-03-11T08:32:32.526-05:00Comments on Living Rootless: Ethiopia: Tall Tales in AddisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409814846400976038.post-15054989181033218962014-03-22T08:17:26.059-05:002014-03-22T08:17:26.059-05:00Whoa - thanks for the clear layout of your descrip...Whoa - thanks for the clear layout of your description. Makes sense. I especially like your last sentence. He hung out (apparently) with the hotel owner family, which gave his story credence. Mzurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13257270220138351795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409814846400976038.post-59273073933397074552014-03-21T23:59:17.905-05:002014-03-21T23:59:17.905-05:00Hi, I landed on this page to read about your story...Hi, I landed on this page to read about your story in Ethiopia. I know it's a bit dated but...<br /><br />Be assured the fellow "traveller" begging money from other tourists is a common scam. I've experienced this twice in my years abroad. I found the story goes like this:<br /><br />1. appear guileless "I had my passport and all my money in my back pocket"<br />2. repeat the story to inexperienced travellers, change if necessary<br />3. adopt new friends that will lend you an air of acceptance and credibility, this will help you broaden your potential donation takings<br />4. invoke a crisis whereby your new friends will feel compelled by the high standard of human decency you have shown to raise money to help you out!<br /><br />The lie here is as pronounced as it is incredulous. An "affidavit from the local police" of a "clean record" required before his foreign passport is re-issued! <br /><br />Perhaps the embassy might have asked for a police report for his stolen passport? That is believable, but what is more credible is that he is a known criminal and that he is embroidered the truth with subtle lies.<br /><br />The only thing to do is to ignore these fellows. Hanging out with them just makes them seem trustworthy to others.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07451759261724515437noreply@blogger.com