this makes 0-2

As I'm rushing home to watch 24, I park my car, and step out only to be summoned by a guy who is sitting on a couch by the street (the couch was being thrown out, he didn't move it there). Mind you, I was on my phone at the time, so he was already being really rude by interrupting my conversation. Anyway, he says claims that his truck broke down a few blocks away and he needs money to pay the tow truck. He already has a bunch of money in his hand (like $100+) that he tells me to count (which I decline). He says he only needs $22.50 more. I don't have any cash on me (I just lost it all playing poker with my co-workers and paying for pizza) but I offer to borrow some from my friends (who I can hear inside my apartment. yeah, they're loud....like me). Being a little suspicious, but still wanting to help, I ask a few questions.

Why is he sitting on a couch a few blocks away from his truck? He says he called his friend (who has a tow truck?) and he's on his way, but he asked for an hour to get money together (his friend is charging him?). He was sitting on the couch trying to think of what to do.

I say I will go borrow some money, and go wait with him for the truck. He gets mad and says he isn't trying to burn me, that he's not a bum, and doesn't want to be treated like a baby. Uh, ok. I offer him the use of my cell phone to call his friend so he can call him to come earlier and not wait for an hour. He declines, saying his friend is coming, he doesn't need to call him. Uh, ok. He says he will wait for me while I get the money.

I go inside, tell my friends what happened, borrow some money, come back out (with HC) and say we will go with him to wait for the tow truck. He asks to borrow my phone. He proceeds to tell me some number (that seems like he is making up on the spot. "323, uh, um, 232, uh thirteen fifty seven"). I call the number and hand him the phone. He says his friend is not picking up, and is on the way. He asks if I dialed the right number. I show him the number. He dials again. He hands me the phone and it indeed is ringing but no one picks up. He keeps repeating that all he needs is $22.50 and if I can help him out. He says he will come back and pay me back and for me to trust him like a man. He doesn't want to be treated like a baby. I tell him he asked for my help, I'm not trying to treat him like a baby, but I want to wait with him, and this is my way of helping him. He then says, "Then this is my way of saying good bye," and walks off.

Obviously (or maybe not), this was a scam. The second time in LA that I've actually tried to help someone asking me for help turns out (again) to be a scam (I'm not counting that one time I did help the lady with the dog that didn't turn out to be a scam, but the dog died. That was just weird). This is seriously hardening my heart against helping those who ask for money or help. I don't want to judge them, or go into it being suspicious, but rather give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, when will I need help and have some crazy unbelievable story to tell? And how can I help the "least of these" if I automatically write them off when I first see them? So I try to keep an open mind, and offer what I can. And get burned. Repeatedly.

This sucks.