There’s been some discussion of one or more young men falsely soliciting for Boys and Girls Club in the past here. Yesterday I commented on the most recent post to share that someone had approached me in similar fashion near the McPherson metro stop in the late winter/early springtime.

Coincidentally, yesterday evening I was coming out of the McPherson metro and at the top of the escalators a young man with dreads and a blue ball cap approached me and said, “Hey honey, how about you, I know you have some money you want to give.” I took the folder with a laminated xeroxed sheet and he said that hewas fundraising for Boys and Girls Club so that high school kids could play football.

I handed the folder back to him and said, “Boys and Girls Club does not solicit on the street,” and tried to walk away. He said, “How you know that?” and I said I had read about it. He then started to get angry and said, “You mean to tell me you got nothin’ better to do than sit around and find out about other people’s business?”

I just looked at him, astonished, and said, “Excuse me?” He said, “What the hell do you do for a living?” I said I was an AmeriCorps volunteer. He said, “What the hell is that? Volunteer? Sounds like you need to be out here with me.”

I walked away because of the strength of his language and aggression. Looking back I realize that he was just scared that I called him out on his scam which is why he got this way, but it in turn worked in making me anxious. I mean, he never even denied my claim! My heart was beating so fast and I considered calling the police but was questioning the validity of what I had read here, no offense.

However, this afternoon I called Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and explained what had happened. The woman who answered said that this isn’t the first time they’ve heard about this happening and confirmed with me that they *NEVER* solicit on the street for fundraising purposes. She asked that if it happens again to call the police and their office at (202) 540-2300

Thanks Holla Back! for alerting us to this – not only have the two young men that I have encountered used inappropriate language toward me as a woman, but they have also been targeting me for a scam.

Submitted by E on 6/30/2010

Location: outside McPherson Square Metro

Time of  Harassment: Evening Rush Hour (3:30P-7:30P)

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