The Gold Wedding Band and How to Scam a Scammer

The end of our Kenya trip brought us to Paris. As we walked along the Seine River, we were stopped by a woman who bent down beside me and picked up a men’s gold wedding band that was at my feet. She handed it to me. I explained that it wasn’t mine and that I didn’t drop it. She said that I must take it, “it is your lucky day”. Again, I refused. She would not take “no” for an answer, so I held it in my closed fist. She then asked for money for food as I had profited from the gold ring. Sensing a scam, I handed her the ring and left.

Some time later, I saw a different woman walk up to a couple, bend over and hand the tourist a gold band, that he apparently dropped. This time, I photographed the transaction. She used the same tactic and explained to the couple that they must have dropped the ring and they must take it, as it was their “lucky day”.

Enjoying psychology, I jumped in, in an attempt to manipulate the scammer, having had some time to think about the scam that was attempted on me.

Remember, she was pawning it off on the unsuspecting victim who was holding the ring.

I walked up and explained to him that it was a ruse to get his money. I asked for the ring and feigned throwing it in the river. The woman went ballistic. At that point, I showed the man that she actually wasn’t trying to give the ring away, but rather cheat him of his money. Otherwise, she would not have been angry that the ring was supposedly in the river.

I handed her the palmed item and she left, yelling “F--- You, sir”. She met up with her partner (who apparently would go to the victim, after the transaction and exchange of money, and pretend that she, in actuality, lost the ring and he must return it to her, or face the consequences).

Now, my interest was piqued. I pondered how I could “scam the scammer” if this happens again (as I found out later from the police, that this is a typical ploy to cheat tourists-must have been the camera around my neck that gave me away).

Sure enough, 20 minutes later, another woman bent down at my feet and held out a gold band and exclaimed that I must have dropped it. I explained that I had not, but again, she insisted I take it. I looked her in the eye and said, someone has lost this valuable item, we must take it to the police. I pocketed the ring and motioned for her to accompany me and make a report.

This response was new to her, and caught her off guard. She said, “no, give it back”, an interesting response from someone who just tried to give it away.

Again, I persisted and began to walk in the opposite direction and motioned for her to come. She retreated because she surely did not want the police involved.

As I distanced myself from her, she yelled and I continued to motion for her to follow.

After several blocks, she was nowhere to be seen and I had the ring.

I did find two officers who explained that this was, in fact, a scam on tourists.

I produced the ring. They laughed.

Isn’t Satan this way. He appeals to our lust with bait but there is a hook at the end. What we think is a treasure, is actually something that depletes our time, money or relationships. (He comes to rob, kill and destroy-Jn 10:10).

The pairs of women have found this to be a lucrative venture, otherwise they would not continue to use the same tactics.

Satan is this way too, his plans work so why should he change.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Pet 5:8

Contentment-realizing that God has already provided everything we need for our present happiness.

The people of the Soweto slums on the outskirts of Nairobi taught me a lesson that I and most others have never learned, how to be content with what God has provided.

Paul says, “for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am”.

You will not find a happier people where I spent the day watching children play in rubble or with anything else they could find.

The parents spend their day rummaging through Nairobi’s city dump, scrounging for plastic bags to resell at the market place, used items and magazines to offer for pennies and food for the family.

America is a country where we lack nothing yet we are dissatisfied and always wanting more.

Contentment and gratitude are sisters. One can tell when someone is content with what God has provided by their constant words of giving thanks.

Thank You For The Glass In My Windows

At Hope Bright Future, one of the children was quick to add this to her prayer. 

Humorous-yes. Did God really need to be thanked for glass in the windows? I never have. I take it for granted. In Kenya, glass in the window means light in an otherwise dark room. It is a means to let the sun in and keep malaria infected mosquitoes out. There are numerous benefits to having windows, but in this society, it is a blessing not afforded everyone.

Gratitude: Telling God and others how they have benefited our life.

I write on the subject of gratitude because I see that we are remiss in our attention to this most important act. I know that when someone is genuinely thankful for something I have provided, and expresses that gratitude, I am quick to continue because of their sincerity. How much more is God quick to respond to our thanks?

Do we make it a habit of thanking God and others for the provisions they have bestowed that benefit our life?

In a recent discussion with friends about prayer, I found that the majority go to great length and detail about their needs and requests to God but rarely give much time to thanksgiving.

It is obvious that we need to turn our prayer time up side down and give God the thanks due Him. And, express to others also, as to how they have benefit our lives. Try this for a week and watch the response.