A man dressed as a cyclist (asking for money)

[Capitals]

Tonight for the second time a saw a man. He looks like a wounded cyclist. He asks for some money so that he can go to chemist. He has got a leg, that looks wounded.

He asked us for money, but I met him just a few weeks ago doing the same. I told him that I'd seen him sitting wounded a few weeks ago and he told me it had been his twin brother! He was sitting just outside East Dulwich Station.

[KidKruger]

age-old ploy, sometimes these guys sport shocking wounds !!

'E' for Effort.

[edanna]

I've given money to this man. I feel stupid now but he was very convincing.

[Capitals]

He does look convincing, in fact he must be pretty well off. He looks very much unlike someone in need of financial help but a true misfortune fellow.

[JohnL]

You'd think that someone doing this and being ignored even when people think they are genuinely injured (as they will do I'd guess) would get despondent about the human race.

[HammersHamlets]

This is a classic homeless trick. It's really sad but the fully substance-dependant ones will often go to extremes - even scarring themselves and opening old wounds. Sadly it works and the vicious cycle continues. Next time you see him I'd advise calling "StreetLink" who help people in his situation. They often have substantial mental health as well as substance issues, as you can imagine.

[Ginster]

I've had him approach me twice too, leg always looks messed up and a fair bit of blood so don't really want to think about what he does to it!! It felt off the first time and the 2nd compounded first instincts!

[tutorse22]

I gave this guy ?10!! huh. He was very convincing, and it all happened very quickly as I was driving, stopped only briefly at a traffic light and he looked like he had literally just had an accident on his bike. Ah well. Live and learn!

[Seabag]

There's a guy in Hoxton (he stabs his own arm) who does a similar thing. He's a heroin addict, much like the cycle guy will be probably. It's pretty grim and shocking, but it's the desperate length these people go to.

Don't beat yourself up for falling for it, your heart's in the right place. It's a convincing con trick by a sick person. Sadly.

[Amanda1979]

We saw him on Saturday sat outside ED station asking for money for a train as he had a puncture

[Flux capacitor]

Oh dear this is terrible... you should really report such matters to the police. Because he should at least be taxed on such earnings.

But seriously report it.

[Chick]

Be serious.

[Otto2]

Oh - I've run into him as well. By Ed Station. About a month ago...

[JohnL]

Buy him a bandage or germoline. So many nurses around East Dulwich I'd have thought his plans would unravel.

[Mary78]

I have also seen this guy twice and he always says the same thing! Good loves a trier lol

[JohnL]

Some are really persistent mind.

Standing outside the pub (not local) yesterday and some girl decides she's not going to leave me alone until I give her a pound (for a sandwich) - just stood there in some kind of stand off and I think she'd have stayed all night.

[carpe_diem]

He was doing the same thing this afternoon outside Forest Hill station. very persistent

[Mrs TP]

I had this in Greenwich a few weeks ago, only my cyclist's wounds were a least a week old having beautifully scabbed over!

[carpe_diem]

the man at Forest Hill station had an alarming number of scabs which looked as though they had healed then been picked off.!

[budleigh]

Just another warning, saw a girl give this guy a ten pound note on lordship lane 10 minutes ago. He then proceeded to hide his "injured" leg and cycled off down the road.

[herne hilly]

Another warning he approached me in Dog Kennel Hill sainsburys car park about a week ago. didn't give him anything, but he was convincing. By the time i got back in the car, he was back on his bike and cycled off.

[FrankieT123]

Who?s seen the guy that stands next to a car pretending it?s hes and he ain?t got petrol and he even has a jerry can with him 😂

He uses the car park in chourmert a lot and the one that killed me one time was when he was standing next to a brand new jag and he asks for something like 20p towards petrol 😂

He has a Afro and in he?s Afro he carries paint brushes , and he goes by the name of artist

After getting to know him I actually saw some of hes paintings and they was amazing really really up there with the top artists .

He seems decent to talk to but he is hooked on drugs and that?s why he does what he does, still no excuse but at least he don?t hurt no one!! 😂

[JontyMon]

Hi Capitals,

I have also noticed this "cyclist". Can I just ask if when you saw him he had a bike, because when I saw him he was just walking around in a helmet! After I gave him ?10 (as I was in a generous mood that day) he then scuttled away clearly uninjured!

People these days.

Love to you and yours,

Jonty

[herne hilly]

The guy i was approached by in the sainsburys car park did have a bike with him. He was about 40+, medium build, spoke with an eastern european accent. He did have a scuffed/bleeding leg.

[Otto2]

I saw him yesterday on Lordship Lane with a bike and watched a woman give him some money....

I also saw him about six months ago with the same accidental scrape on his leg and he asked me for money...