I was stopped yesterday by a man who was in need of some medication for what looked like a very nasty, weeping burn on his arm. He had a doctor’s prescription but said he was poor and couldn’t afford to pay for the medicine and had no insurance.
He was obviously in need of this medication so I agreed to pay and accompanied him to the pharmacy.
The cost of the medicine came to more than Dhs700. Whilst I am certainly not rich I could afford to pay and therefore the cost is not the issue.
However, I’m left feeling torn between feeling good that I’ve done a good deed for someone, and feeling anxious that, actually it was just some sort of scam.
I feel really bad for thinking like this, so I’d like to know, is it a common problem here in the UAE where the poor are unable to access the medicine they need? Is there no ‘free medicine’ available for those who cannot afford it or for some reason (perhaps unemployment) have no insurance?
Or is it like I fear, just a scam and I was taken for a ride?
Anon
Dubai
February 14, 2012 at 11:24 am
I had the exact same guy approach me but didnt stop to chat – was this in Media City by any chance? In this case, I would say the guy was probably in need of the medication and couldn’t afford to pay. All medicines here cost money (no free prescriptions like the UK) but it looks like a genuine case where you went with him to the pharmacy. If he were to scam you, it is likely he would have just asked for cash. It could be that he will go on to sell the drugs but I must say you are very generous to pay over 700aed to a complete stranger. I have heard of cases where some people self-mutilate to get pity money from people but find this hard to stomach. Since everyone here needs a sponsor and medical insurance is obligatory, the guy is probably illegal/ so to avoid getting into trouble, this is why I passed by without helping.
February 14, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Seen this same guy outside Ibn Battuta Mall. I’ve heard of many similar incidents so assumed he was a scammer. I’m surprised he actually went into the pharmacy though…
February 15, 2012 at 3:58 am
Just because he is illegal doesn’t mean he is inhuman an not worthy of help. He needs help more then others, he has probably been abused of and in need of a person to help. A person who has the personal ethics to do the right thing.
February 15, 2012 at 12:34 pm
And doing the right thing will be turning these individuals to the police. This person IS not a victim, but the people he is scamming are.
February 14, 2012 at 12:04 pm
You were scammed – he has been around every area and keeps moving to new location regularly. Its an Indian guy and when I offered to take him to Iranian Hospital he rejected my offer and ran. He has what looks like a prescription but has no date. Iranian Hospital charges only Dhs 50 to see him and treat him and give him medicine – so no excuse. Bear that in mind in the future.
February 14, 2012 at 1:13 pm
I don’t think this was a scam as the person came with you to the Pharmacy and the guy at the Pharmacy gave the stuff based on the prescription. He would definitely see the date on the prescription before giving the medicines. It would be too difficult for the scamster to have an arrangement with the pharmacy shop. So you don’t need to regret for your actions. AA Ali is right when he says Iranian hospital charges Aed. 50 for consultation but they don’t give any medicines free of cost.
February 14, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Naveen the Doc gave us a prescription which we collect from the window and we didnt pay any extra.
February 16, 2012 at 2:28 am
A A Ali, maybe you have an insurance if they didn’t charge you for the medicine,…
February 14, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Ali is right. You’ve been scammed. This guy has been around for years. For legitimate causes, there are many charities as well as the red cresecnt that can help needy individuals.
February 14, 2012 at 1:14 pm
You need to ask? You got totally scammed
February 16, 2012 at 2:31 am
who benefitted from that scam? The pharmacy, of course… the benefactor said he paid for the medicine IN THE PHARMACY… am I right? THE BENEFACTOR DID NOT PAY OUTSIDE THE PHARMACY… RIGHT? Where is the scam there…???
February 16, 2012 at 1:22 pm
The pharmacy is clearly in on it and I expect will split the 700 dhs with the scammer. The medicine obviously will not cost that much.
February 14, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Two things:
1. AED700? that’s a large sum. He could sell the medicine anyway. You didn’t see him apply it on the wound right away.
2. The pharmacy may or may not be a part of his scam.
February 14, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I was approached by the very same guy just last week outside Ibn Battuta mall at 6:30am!! He showed me the burn on his arm (which looked very realistic and painful), then showed me a prescription and proceeded to ask for 30 dhs towards a taxi so he could get to the Iranian Hospital. As soon as he discovered I actually had no cash on me he dropped the sad/painful look on his face and quickly went back into the mall. Scammed for sure sorry to say! This guy needs to be caught by the police. He has surely been caught on CCTV.
February 14, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Maybe he’s just very clumsy?
February 14, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Common scam. There is more than one guy. The others also carry what looks like a bag of apple juice strapped to them and then tell you the same story – with the same prescription. If in doubt – offer to take them to the hospital and watch them drop the request.
February 14, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Yup , definitely a scam,
exact same guy ( or someone using the same scam ) came to me in Garhoud area once and in Trade center area once again ( encounters were 2 years apart )
both times i offered to take him straight to the hospital and that we should go real quick , and guess what , both times he ran .
never offer to buy medicine , take them to any clinic , its 50 derhams for check up and possible free meds
February 14, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Total scam… as many have said, the same scam has been going on here for years (I remember being approached over 5 years ago in Bur Dubai).
However the “burn” is real and it is self-mutilation….. quite easy to do though without too much pain…… a “Chlorox poultice” will achieve the desired effect as will any commercial paint stripper…..
February 14, 2012 at 8:07 pm
I was approached by a man about five years ago in Satwa – the burn was so bad, I could see bone. I offered to take him to the Iranian Hospital where I knew they wouldn’t turn him away. To my surprise, he didn’t run away, got in my car and I dropped him off at A&E. Even if it was a scam, he clearly needed urgent treatment. It is really sad that anyone needs to do this to make money in 2012 in a supposedly civilised society. It’s a pretty drastic thing to do and we’d all do well to think about the circumstances as to why this is still happening.
February 14, 2012 at 8:26 pm
sorry if im writing something that is not related to this topic, I’ve been robbed in Dubai mall on Sunday at Zara shop, and it was a really lousy experience as no body helped me at all, neither by Zara staff nor by the mall security, they did not even bother themselves to check the cameras of the mall, and there was a camera on the area I was standing in, and for some reason Zara’s manager told me the camera was not working and they were adjusting it, (I don’t know how they adjust a security camera during day time while ppl are inside their shop!!) I’m strongly doubting that it was one of the staff who robbed me, as who else will know that the camera is not working, if it’s a thief coming to Zara to steel ppl, he for sure would notice the cameras and will think twice before doing such a thing, I was really frustrated from the attitude of the ppl inside Zara and the security of the Mall, they literally did absolutely nothing to help, they did not even suggest reporting the case to the police!!, I don’t know what kind of security system available in Zara or in the Mall, but I guess they are just a part of the shop and the mall décor, this was a very frustrating experience, specially that I lost nearly 4000 USD. i guess i deserve some respect from them
February 15, 2012 at 7:39 am
@ Sherin..
Call the police..!!
Maybe you should have taken greater responsibility of your purse in the first place..??
February 15, 2012 at 9:37 am
yeah off topic but i feel for you. I guess I’ll be extra cautious when I visit that shop again.
February 15, 2012 at 2:23 am
I had encounter the same guy in dubai internet city few years back, he is indeed a scammer.
@ Sherin: I feel sorry for what happened to you.. If the store manager & staff didnt listen to you, why didn’t you call the police??? If i lost 4000$ i wont leave the place without reporting it to the right authority…