Another photo of the fake Spare Change guy

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

I took a photo of the fake Spare Change guy at Kendall last night. (For those of you who haven't heard about this before, here's the Boston.com article about it.) I noticed that the photo anomie666 posted here in March isn't available anymore, so I figured I'd post mine.

Needless to say, he wasn't happy I took his photo. He came up and yelled at me, calling me a "skinhead" and saying, "You couldn't even sell yourself, because you're bald!". For the record, while my hair is very short, I am neither bald nor a skinhead, in any sense of the word. ;-) I was a little worried he was going to try to take my phone, but he didn't make any moves to touch me or my stuff.

Please pass this photo along to anyone you know who rides the Red line in Cambridge/Somerville. What do folks think: Is it worth it to email it to the local newspapers or the MBTA? It seems like the Spare Change people are well informed about who he is, so I don't think they really need a photo.

Comments

here is my crappy cell phone picture

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Re: here is my crappy cell phone picture

[spatch]

So that's where Hunter S. Thompson went to. I knew he'd faked his death all along!

Re: here is my crappy cell phone picture

[ron_newman]

Why was your image moved or deleted?

Re: here is my crappy cell phone picture

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Because I think I must have deleted the photo from photobucket (thereby destroying the hotlink). I just re-uploaded the picture.

Re: here is my crappy cell phone picture

[perich.livejournal.com]

It's a really neat picture - the subway roof and platform create this weird web of perspective lines, centering on the douchebag's leathery face.

Re: here is my crappy cell phone picture

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

Yes, definitely -- apart from the informational value it's actually a really well-composed photo, crappy cell phone camera notwithstanding.

Re: here is my crappy cell phone picture

[horizon-radar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this photo is really well done. Like lomography-esque.

[shaxxon.livejournal.com]

I see this guy a lot at Davis in the morning and after work in Kendall Square.

I read the article, but is there anything else we can do other than spread the word?

[ron_newman]

Put up posters in stations with the photo, captioned "Don't buy newspapers from this scammer" ?

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

you could ask him for a paper... say something like "paper first", and if you don't get the right one, tell him he's a fake and take a hike.

for bonus points, immediately goto the police and/or announce in a loud voice he's a fake to everyone, and suggest they take his picture ;) make it a flashmob thing.

otherwise, actually take his copy off the top, and pay him :)

it seems the people who should know, do know, and there's little or nothing they can do.

#

[perich.livejournal.com]

Spreading the word is plenty.

I start something with him whenever I see him. Not pick a fight or anything. But I'll ask him for his Spare Change vendor ID, or take his picture.

"You can't take my picture," he slurs. "That's identity theft!"

"All right," I say, "then let's go talk to security."

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

Most days I have my Nikon with me. If I run into him I'll see if I can take a really good picture for a poster.

Odd you had to specify

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

That you are not bald... Did this guy make you feel insecure or something with his comment? :)

[comicnrrd.livejournal.com]

I find the most off-putting aspect of this "vinnie" guy's scam to be that he is incredibly pushy and rude. I have been verbally assaulted by this guy several times for not wanting his dingy, tattered copy of last week's spare change news that he peddles in the Davis T-Stop. I'm just glad to know that his scam is public knowledge, and hopefully other spare change vendors aren't getting a bad rep because of this guys actions.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

The guy is definitely rude. Like 2 years ago I told him to go away, and ever since then he calls me a cunt every time he sees me.

[taxine.livejournal.com]

You should crosspost to b0st0n, he will occasionally do this Park St. too. I think it's worth sending to the Metro and any MBTA or Spare Change contacts you can dig up too. I really hate this guy, he's been doing it for years. He's also chased me at least once.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

Only members can post to b0st0n, and I'd rather not go through the hassle of becoming and un-becoming a member just to post this. Could you post a pointer to this entry over there?

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I always say, in a loud voice, "No, thank you. I only buy Spare Change from authorized vendors."

[whaler.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of skeeved out by how this man is being photographed and monitored by this community like a tagged striped bass. Sure he's done some unscrupulous things, but he's still a human being.

I totally agree.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

This community tends to have its mob periods from time to time, not unlike redneck ones. But we eat healthier and more expensive food! :)

[ron_newman]

He can stop scamming people any time and then we'll leave him alone. He's been at this for more than three years now.

Stealing from a charity is just wrong.

[adaptively.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I think it's not only sketchy, but pretty dehumanizing, too. This comm (and b0st0n, too) sort of has a problem with treating the homeless as things rather than people. :\

[smammy]

It kinda turns my stomach how bent out of shape you guys get over this man.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Some of us who are involved with Spare Change have heard from the legit vendors how upset they are about this guy. He's not just cheating random passersby, he's cheating homeless folks who work hard to make Spare Change work.

That sucks, in my book.

[pureacrylic.livejournal.com]

ugh...this thread is gross