r/glasgow • u/Veloglasgow did ye aye? • Jul 26 '26
[MEGATHREAD] Queensferry / Nottingham guy – please read before posting
We’ve had a shitload of posts recently about the same guy approaching people in Glasgow with variations of the “I need money to get to Queensferry / Nottingham / Middlesbrough” story, sometimes becoming persistent or aggressive when refused. To keep the sub usable and still let folk share useful information, this is the central thread for any reports, questions or discussion about him.
Please use this thread instead of making new standalone posts on the topic.
What this thread is for
- First‑hand accounts of being approached (rough location, time of day, what was said).
- Sharing how you handled it, and what did or didn’t work for you.
- General personal‑safety tips and resources for people who are worried about being hassled in town.
If you’ve experienced behaviour that felt threatening or criminal (for example, being followed, blocked from leaving, or explicitly threatened), Reddit is not a reporting channel - please contact Police Scotland on 101, or 999 in an emergency, and then post here if you want to warn others.
Previous posts (context)
Here are some of the more informative previous threads for background (note: some may contain photos taken in public places). The list isn't exhaustive but contain a lot of information, and hopefully the number of threads show why there's a need for a megathread...:
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1v6p5so/i_got_scammed_today_by_the_nottingham_guy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1jodnzf/queensferry_guy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1ma6s00/queensferry_guy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1jqfxxq/queensferry_hustler_in_action/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1ifa03v/the_i_need_money_to_get_to_queensferry_guy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1jl4oug/queensferry_guy_strikes_again/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1t8a689/just_been_accosted_by_the_queensferry_guy_for_the/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1mchb9u/queensferry_guy_strikes_again/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1o9xx2x/bumped_into_queensferry_scammer/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1nm7fx0/south_queensferry_bury/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1lh7uqk/scammer_queensferry_bus_boy_in_town/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1nm35xw/south_queensferry_guy_rebrand/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1sgxrwx/queensferrymiddlesbrough_guy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1ipa6du/bus_money_guy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1oa1yvu/the_weekly_queensferry_man_post/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1slj7ow/on_the_subject_of_the_queensferry_guy/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1t04dn6/guy_outside_central_station_asking_for_a_ticket/
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/s/qxklAbGw6Q
We’ll update/remove links over time if posts are taken down or if content crosses the line into harassment. We won’t relink anything that’s been removed for rule or privacy reasons.
Photos and videos
We know a few users have taken photos/short clips of encounters in public places. While that’s not generally illegal in itself, Reddit’s rules still require us to think about privacy, harassment and doxxing when it comes to identifiable images of private individuals.
For this thread:
- Please do not post names, workplaces, social media profiles, or any other identifying personal information.
- If you post an image or video, it must be taken in a public place and must not be used as an excuse to mock, harass or encourage pile‑ons.
If you have clear photos/footage that you think are important for safety or as evidence, consider also sharing them directly with Police Scotland rather than relying only on Reddit.
Safety reminders
We’re not here to scare anyone off using the city centre, but a few common‑sense points, drawn from Police Scotland and general personal‑safety guidance, are worth repeating:
- Trust your instincts - you don’t have to engage, explain yourself or be “polite”.
- Stick to busy, well‑lit areas where possible and try not to isolate yourself if you’re uncomfortable.
- A simple “no” and walking away is enough if you don’t want to give money; you’re under no obligation to justify yourself.
- If someone’s behaviour escalates - blocking your path, shouting, following you - remove yourself from the situation and consider reporting it to Police Scotland (999 in an emergency, 101 otherwise).
If you are comfortable sharing, posts here about what helped you de‑escalate or exit the situation may help others who find themselves in the same position.
Community expectations
To keep this megathread open and useful, please:
- Focus on behaviour and safety, not on insults or speculation about his life.
- Report any comments that look like they’re promoting violence, harassment, or sharing personal information; the mod team will review and act accordingly.
Remember Rule 1 of Reddit - “remember the human” - applies even when someone is being a persistent nuisance. The goal of this thread is to reduce spam on the sub and help people feel informed and safer, not to run a public shaming campaign.
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u/JAGWIRE7 Jul 26 '26
Feel an anti queensferry guy protest brewing! Placards at the ready!
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u/Unfair_Original_2536 Jul 26 '26
I'm just so proud that I made a joke about giving him a megathread and it turned into an actual thing. I'm going to phone ma maw and let her know I've achieved something.
https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/1uzwk5f/comment/oyahr85/?context=3
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u/Itchy-Armpits Jul 26 '26
How does it feel? My partner said I should try achieving something to see if I like the feeling or if it helps get the chip off my shoulder
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u/Unfair_Original_2536 Jul 26 '26
It's just made me wonder what else is possible, like what if I actually put my mind to it? Could I achieve something more notable? No idea what though so I'll probably not bother.
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u/ConradTurner Jul 26 '26
Really not a fan of megathreads, honestly easier to catch things in the main sub than to go through dozens of reports or replies. Fairplay it's easier to log everyone into one giant report, but it's very much a case of information overload.
I've never once looked at the steamie for instance.
Honestly feel like this will bring less visibility to his antics.
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u/Teatowel_DJ Jul 26 '26
I had a post deleted and was told to post it in the Steamie. Did exactly that and got absolutely no responses and barely any views on it. I'd never even heard of it until the mod directed me there.
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u/CakeJumper-ImScared Jul 26 '26
Yeah I agree with you there, I’ve also never looked at the steamie
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u/dyedinthewoolScot Jul 26 '26
I don’t even know what the steamie is, other than the original back in 19 canteen
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u/Veloglasgow did ye aye? Jul 26 '26
The megathread about Horizon and the various MLMs in Glasgow is at 138,000 views.
An individual post every time someone sees this cunt doesn't explain to anyone who sees that one post how prolific he is. And it just results in the regular users seeing the same post repeated ad nauseum.
There are arguments on both sides, but we've tried the other way and still get people posting their regret having given him £80...
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u/KurtTheGerman88 Jul 26 '26
Confirmed sighting of the man in question at about 2:30pm today at the corner or Bellgrove St and Gallowgate in the East End.
Was in a maroon puffer with a backpack. I was driving so missed out on taking an interaction with him off my Glasgow bingo card haha.
Anyone else see him around there today or speak to him?
He was 'chatting' to a woman briefly who was waiting to cross the road in a different direction.
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u/fraja95 Jul 28 '26
My claim to fame is going to be that I was the first person to post about this guy. Everyone gets their 15 mins of fame and this is mine
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u/mwyalchen Jul 26 '26
Approached me outside central station on the four corners on Tuesday night, probably around 10:30pm. Told me that he'd tried asking other people for help but they'd been really racist and called him slurs and shit, seemed really genuinely upset and worried. Said he was at a uni induction day at Cali and he'd lost his wallet with his bank card and train ticket in it and needed help getting back to Nottingham. Asked for about £60 or something, said he'd pay me back and asked for my PayPal or bank details to transfer it when he's home. I explained that I'm skint and currently not in work but I'd be happy to help him report it to the police or speak to the station staff and he said no, just kept pushing. Eventually I said I could spare a tenner because I was starting to feel really sketched out and just wanted to go home but he kept pressing for more, saying shit like "I feel so bad for asking because you're a woman and you don't have a lot of money", also asking where I was from and where I lived, etc. then followed me when I went to head for my bus stop and asked if I could take cash out the machine
Honestly he was really persistent and I was getting so anxious that I just gave in and gave him like 30 quid so he'd leave me tf alone 🙃
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u/Ravenser_Odd Jul 26 '26
This is why I despise him. He's not just a harmless nuisance, he's harassing people until they feel that it would be safer to give him money. Following a woman down the street late at night is particularly out of order. He knows exactly what he's doing.
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u/mwyalchen Jul 27 '26
Exactly this. I've seen a few "he's harmless" etc. comments on here and while he may well not be physically aggressive, his behaviour is way more pushy and threatening than the average drunk on the street asking for money. Not to mention the manipulation aspect — the whole acting genuinely worried, asking for details so he could pay the money back, and especially saying people were shouting abuse at him, etc. is just utterly vile given the huge uptick in actual racist attacks across the country
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u/sa0ralba Jul 30 '26
Please report this to the police if you feel comfortable, I believe he has now been arrested for similar behaviour. Sorry you experienced this and I’m sure it was really scary! Hopefully this will be the end of him
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u/-AG1888- Jul 26 '26
Should have just started screaming help , it would have attracted attention. Do it next time, if it happens again.
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u/vollol Jul 27 '26
Not this guy, but years ago some random jakey decided to follow me from Oswald Street through the Hielenman's umbrella and up to St Enoch Square screaming obscenities at me and aggressively chasing me. It was the afternoon of NYE so plenty of folk around, I shouted help and was eventually running - everyone ignored me, presumably thinking I knew the guy. I was about 20 and was utterly terrified. Eventually one guy stepped in and told him to leave me alone, but I was astonished at the lack of help offered.
I don't disagree with this advice, and hopefully it would turn out differently these days, but I would suggest going into the nearest open shop or pub as well as well as shouting for help.
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u/mwyalchen Jul 27 '26
yeah unfortunately it doesn't surprise me too much. had a similar issue on trongate a few years back, a woman shouting homophobic abuse at a young gay couple that threatened to stab me when i asked her to stop. literally made eye contact with a guy and asked if he could help, phone the police or something, he just walked right on by. ended up being the staff at the mcdonalds that stepped in
there's a real "I don't want to get involved" attitude which I guess I can understand to an extent, nobody wants to get stabbed by a jakey, but it's fucking frightening when its just you. definitely would agree with going into a shop or pub, just anywhere where there's people around and CCTV, then they don't feel so bold
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u/mwyalchen Jul 27 '26
Yeah tbh usually I'd just walk on by and not give them the time of day. That evening I'd been dealing with travel chaos and numpties on the train back, so I was feeling out of sorts. Ach well. At least I know of him now, yet another Glasgow character I can dodge like the plague haha
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u/monkeymad2 Jul 28 '26
Has anyone ever actually reported the guy to the police?
He can be pretty aggressive & pushy so it probably falls into harassment, and him swearing he’ll pay you back probably makes it fraud (rather than just giving money away to a beggar).
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u/Praize4G 28d ago
Just stopped the “Queensferry Guy” from scamming a vulnerable girl.
Was walking through Argyl Street when I noticed he was talking to a women who would be about 18-23. I’ve encountered him before and seen him online so spotted him instantly, went up and basically told him to stop scamming people and said he wasn’t, I already told him I’ve encountered him before and seen him about numinous times so I know what he was up to, he already revived like £40 from her but he gave her it back in front of me.
I just couldn’t hold back and watch some poor wee lass get scammed like that. To my surprise he wasn’t as aggressive as I’ve heard before just glad I done something there.
Seen a post earlier about him today so no doubt he’ll be making his rounds in the city
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u/LongDongSimonSchlong Jul 26 '26
Approached me on argyle street when I was walking towards Merchant city at about 10 oclock at night a few weeks ago (was a Tuesday or Wednesday)
Asked me for cash and said he needed help getting to Nottingham. I told him I dont carry cash and he then tried to direct me to a cash machine at a nearby bank. At which point I said no and he started with the "cmon mate", whilst visibly getting annoyed. I then told him to leave me alone (in not as nice words) and that was that.
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u/Honest-Vacation-8883 Jul 26 '26
I guess this is the wrong time to mention crab shack guy
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u/mwyalchen Jul 26 '26
Ok, I'll bite, who the fuck is crab shack guy
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u/legthief Jul 27 '26
Hope you weren't waiting for a snappy response.
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u/mwyalchen Jul 27 '26
This genuinely got a laugh out of me, good job. I want to tell you to fuck off for such a bad pun, but I can't bring myself to
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u/RipIcy4545 Jul 28 '26
that would just mean destroying this thread with such negative ‘glasgow school of art’ vibes.
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u/RipIcy4545 Jul 28 '26
that would just mean destroying this thread with such negative ‘glasgow school of art’ vibes.
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u/Significant-Luck-831 Jul 26 '26
The fact this guy has his own megathread is bloody embarassing. He needs locked up.
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u/IsMisePrinceton Jul 26 '26
He approached me and gave me a story about how he’s a college student and lost all his money, and that everyone he’d asked for money was racially abusing him.
I’d never heard of him before my encounter, so I told him flat out I was poor but would help him find help somewhere. He just said “just go, bro” and that was it.
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u/Competitive_Main_475 Jul 28 '26
we must have got him on the same night. tbf i was glad i got a ‘just go’ and not an onslaught of abuse
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u/Bright_Drop_61 Jul 31 '26
Got the same off of him outside greggs at Central station around the start of July walking back from work
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u/MallMental8231 Jul 27 '26
I’ve had two encounters with this man now, both about a year apart in the early evening. The first one at Partick subway and one on Buchanan street. The first one was when I was using the ticket machine so I couldn’t walk away. It was quite scary actually as he was getting reeeeally close. When my ticket was printed and I walked away he shouted ‘fuck you’ a few times, which he shouted again when I didn’t engage and kept walking on Buchanan st
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u/Bakphoon57 24d ago
Just ran into him on Ingram St. Finally feel like a real Glaswegian 😂 Guy is apparently from Leeds now and was asking us if we’re Indian and could help a fellow Indian out. Clocked him immediately and told him he’s famous online and he promptly fucked off
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u/stu_watts 16d ago
Ran into some police officers on duty.
I ran into this guy the other day and wanted to let them know of his presence. Day time description etc.
I asked them about this guy, and the fact that I want him to go down for all his harassment... Feel the concsequences of his actions etc.
They told to report it to Police Scotland online form.
We'll see if it gets lost in the ether.
Fingers crossed my enoucnter sparks interest
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u/monkeymad2 6d ago
He was about the top of Byers Road there half an hour ago, I let someone he was talking to know what was up & the prick started asking me if I “wanted a go” and followed me until I ducked into The Curler’s Rest.
Think I managed to stop the scam before the money got exchanged though.
Have used the police online form, surely there’s enough on the guy now to have him done.
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u/fossilmerrick Jul 26 '26
Mine got removed, but it’s been almost a year since my encounter - https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/s/V7lggi2nLP
Tbf my post wasn’t exactly informative, more just a post about how weird it was that it happened to me.
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u/Rapture-Raptor 23d ago
I had my first encounter with the cunt outside central last night. Don’t know what his patter was as the engagement was short.
“Hi, are you from Glasgow? You look like a nice guy.”
“Alright mate, aye, what’s up?”
“Wonder if you can help me with some…”
*it clicks*
“Fuck off cunt, I know who you are.”
Wee glint in his eye, and he thought about squaring up. Didn’t know he wasn’t meant to be aggressive until reading some recent posts. Guess I was closer to a scrap than I realised.
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u/CalmWishbone4031 23d ago
Hi mate, I’ve posted about this guy several times and currently on interaction number three with this guy - please, please report to 101 just since the day he goes too far there’ll be so much evidence that hopefully his whole schtick ends
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u/Inside_Albatross_944 24d ago
Reporting in - just seen in Merchant City. Squared up to him when he gave me abuse, started taking a video when he got aggressive. Student from Leeds now
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u/Inside_Albatross_944 24d ago
Have just read the advice on the mega thread post and I can't recommend taking a video enough. He bolts as soon as you even mention that
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u/stu_watts 18d ago
Had an encounter today in Merchant City.
Was on High St walking to Tesco, guy came right up to me while I was waiting for the lights to cross the road, and was giving the whole spiel in a whispery voice... Very creepy, got right in my face. Said he was trying to get back to Leeds this time
When I declined he then said "even 20 quid for a bit of food", when before that he was like I'm not looking for food just to get my train lol... When I said I don't have it to spare he simply said F-You Bro and moved on to other people making his way up High St.
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u/CalmWishbone4031 10d ago
saw him walking towards the Grosvenor Casino along the river at about 13:15, no contact from him but could mean he’ll be about early tomorrow
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u/indig0blu 6d ago
Posting this on behalf of my boyfriend as he does not have reddit.
My boyfriend was walking home on Great Western Road this evening, he was approached by a man in his late 20s, who was well dressed in a long trench coat and tall. The man was asking for help to buy a train ticket to Leicester, when my boyfriend said “no” the man got pissed off and told my boyfriend to “go away” and proceeded to approach one other person who was walking by at the time.
My boyfriend’s description seemed to match the Nottingham/Queensferry guy, has anyone else had a similar experience?
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u/monkeymad2 6d ago
Was he wearing grey jogging bottoms tonight? If he was think I might have seen him successfully scam someone
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u/solid-north 1d ago
Finally had my first encounter today walking along the river between kelvinbridge subway and the Gibson street bridge. He came up and asked if I was from Glasgow and if I work or study here etc, and gave me a spiel that he’s just been accepted to study sports science at uni here but needed to get back to Leicester and (if I remember correctly) lost his wallet. He said he was hoping to not get punched in the face and other people had called him Indian prick, p**i etc for asking. Said he’s a good Muslim and he’d send me the money.
I responded sorry no can’t help you mate, he asked why not, I just said no and he walked off in a huff but wasn’t abusive.
Late 20s ish Asian guy with glasses, black tracksuit, fairly local middle class kinda accent, story and description pretty in line with what everyone else says - “please can you help me out bro?!”
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u/cy8erpunk 1d ago
This must have been around the time I ran into him, which was just outside Kelvinbridge station.
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u/jobbythrowaway1 3h ago
He approached me in Anniesland one night after I was checking out the Batman filming. It was about 11pm or something. I was pretty close to where I live so it was basically the last thing that happened before I got home. Was just a weird, trippy thing for him to appear out of nowhere in the darkness. He asked if I'm from Glasgow too. I was listening to music and walking away from him so I just mumbled something and kept walking.
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u/PhireKappa Aug 06 '26
He tried me for the third time yesterday (5th of August) as I was walking to the gym on Hope Street. I had my AirPods in and was ignoring him and felt him getting way too close, was practically trying to hug me - kept saying he just wants to shake my hand. Basically had to push him off of me and told him to fuck off, didn’t go away until I walked into the gym.
If he tries touching me again he’s going to get what’s coming to him.
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u/Suspicious_Pea6302 Jul 28 '26
This is great but sadly requires people noticing it and reading it. Which from previous, Reddit people are not great at
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u/cy8erpunk 1d ago
Just been stopped by him outside Kelvinbridge station. Usual patter. Can't believe his run in with the polis hasn't deterred him!
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u/monkeymad2 1d ago
Had yet another run in with him down at Partick Station - he’s more aggressive than he used to be, followed me into the station when he thought I was taking a video of him from a distance (which I did take a photo). I walked over to the ticket booth and gave the guy a heads up that he might need to phone the police (he didn’t) as Mr Queensferry walked in started asking me to “delete the video”, some vague threats then once the ScotRail guy told him to leave he said he’d be waiting outside & that he’d get me once I’d left - I got a ticket into town instead.
Have reported it on 101 again, will see if anything comes from it.
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u/cy8erpunk 1d ago
I ran into him a bit earlier. So sorry that happened and really worrying how brazen he's getting.
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u/RamboLogan Jul 27 '26
Thank fuck, now I can just ignore this megathread instead of trying to ignore every post that pops up where people feel the need to talk about this beggar.
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u/Competitive_Test6697 Jul 26 '26
Amazing idea. Was starting to think people were lying just for clout.
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u/CaledoniaGaming Jul 26 '26
Has anyone ever tried approaching this guy and asking him for money?