When Criminals Outsmart You

Every year, as people read more about the crimes that happen in their community, they become more careful of potential criminal activity around them. This makes it difficult for criminals to commit some crimes such as fraud. However, some criminals always come up with fresh ideas.

Following is one example:

It was a rainy day and Alan, a taxi driver, saw a potential passenger on the street waving at him. He stopped the car at the passenger’s feet. The passenger didn’t look like the ordinary passengers he found every day at that time. He was an elderly man who had a long white beard and was wearing a long white robe. He looked like a holy man out of a Hollywood film. The old man told Alan the destination and asked him to take the road around the city to get there faster. On the way, he talked about being nice to people and picking them up when they needed a ride and were standing in the rain. 

 

Suddenly, the old man pointed to a couple who were standing in the rain and were looking for a taxi. Alan didn’t want to look bad, so he stopped to pick them up and prove to the old man that he was generous. The couple thanked Alan, and the old man kept the conversation with Alan going. In the middle of the way, the woman in the back seat asked Alan, ‘Sir, who are you talking to?’ Alan answered, ‘What do you mean? I’m talking to this gentleman here. He asked me to pick you up.’ The man sitting next to the woman said, ‘Sir, are you OK? There’s no one sitting next to you.’ Alan looked at the old man and then at the confused faces of the couple. Suddenly, he thought that the old man was a ghost, so he stopped the car and ran out of the car. The old man quickly jumped behind the wheel and drove the car away!