Couple with child scams generous teen out of college savings
PORTLAND, Ore. - David Lewis said he was just doing what he felt was the right thing to do, even though something inside him was telling him not to.
Lewis, 18, had just deposited his paycheck last Wednesday at his credit union's ATM machine in Northeast Portland and was sitting in his van when he was approached by an "intimidating" man and woman who had a young child in tow.
They said their ATM card was not working and they needed to deposit a $500 check and withdraw cash to buy food. Could he deposit the check in his account and give them cash? 
Despite his misgivings, he decided to do it. "As I handed [the money] to her, I said 'I'm losing all that.'"
Lewis was right. And it was all the money he had, money he had been saving for college, money that he received from the sale of silver coins given to him by his aunt. He was also hit with a $10 overdraft fee.
Lewis recounted that the young girl said "'I'm scared, mom, I'm scared.' And I just felt really bad... I didn't know if they were going to eat that night, so if I cash this check, maybe they would feed their daughter? Maybe it would feed them?"
Lewis said he felt guilt-tripped into handing over the cash.
"I just wanted to be a good person," he said. "In the moment, I was just so nervous."
But police said David did one thing that may help track down the couple with the child: He made the woman deposit the check in full view of the ATM's camera, giving investigators a good look at one of the people who made off with his savings.
"I'm not going to fall for something like that again. I learned my lesson," Lewis said. He will have to work about 55 hours at his part-time job to make up the loss.
Investigators are reviewing security video from the credit union and taking a close look at the check that was deposited to see if the incident involving Lewis is tied to similar incidents in the area.
I wouldn't be so hard on Mr. Lewis as some of you think he deserves. We've all made mistakes in life trying to do the right thing. True, in this day and age of scams targeting the elderly, the average Joe, and now a young college student you think we'd all know better by now. But sometimes the little voice inside of us isn't loud enough to get our attention til it's too late.
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I'm sure just this morning the handful of change I gave to a guy at E. Broadway and Patterson was because of my feeling guilty because I had just bought my friend a breakfast sandwich at CJ's and this guy had a sign saying "Doesn't anybody care about me?" as he stood at the drive-up exit. If he truly was scamming people so-be it. If he did need the money then I guess I helped him in some small way.
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I know I can not really afford to give anyone money as I lost my house to foreclosure because of a job loss of 35yrs, and can only find part-time work, but I'm still better off then some so if I can help in some way I'm going to do it.
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Mr. Lewis has many years of learning ahead of him as he is still young so this is just one of those expensive lessons of life. Â
There are plenty of community resources to help people without food. Â Especially in Oregon. Â The "we don't have anything to eat" statement has been debunked along time ago.Â
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Always go with your gut, especially if common sense has failed you.
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Schadenfreude Sense is tingling.
Maybe your not smart enough for college. Think with your brain. Not your emotions.
@givupongod: I guess we can't all be as breathtakingly intelligent and thoughtful as you.
 @mackenzie0158 If you want to help someone who is hungry. You offer to take them out to eat. When they say no. You know they do not want food. Or if you want to feel all warm and fuzzy inside about yourself. Give them $20.00 not $500.
 @givupongod What a horrible thing to say....he was trying to help hungry people
@Dianne Pitt@givupongod
@givupongod
The guy was PURPOSEFULLY being decieved by people that wanted to take from him.Â
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They weren't hungry. Â Dianne is another person who falls for this stupidity.Â
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What the girl was "afraid" of, was doing wrong. Â Not eating.Â
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 @Dianne Pitt Exactly my point. He thought he was helping hungry people. But he was not smart enough to know they were scam artists.
The sad part is that if they are caught, they won't be sent to jail. They will be released due to capacity reasons.Â
no good deed goes unpunished
Stupid is as stupid does.
 @IAMHIGH You ARE high
@Dianne Pitt Why yes I am....Now tell me something I don't know=)
When I first moved to Eugene 12 years ago, there was an adult man with two young children (a boy and a girl) who were peddled around town and forced to beg. I had never encountered the use of children in begging schemes before and as I read about this poor little girl, I am heartbroken. I hope they find these scum bags and take that little girl away and place her in a loving home. one can dream, can't she?
I hope the cops find this couple and get that little girl away from them. It is no wonder people are so distrusting these days. What scumbags.