Not sure if this belongs here, please correct me if I'm wrong.

This is something that happened to me a short while before I left my last job. I work at a big chain electronics store and this occurred on my lunch break. While I was walking back I have to cross the parking lot from the taco hell to my work. About half way across a mini van pulls up beside me an rolls down its window. Thinking she was lost I stopped and spoke with the driver who was a middle aged Spanish woman who had a multitude of children in the back.

The conversation went like this.

Her: hello, can you help me? Me: sure, what's up? Her: my kids are so hungry can you please help us get some food?

(I make it a habit to make friends with at least one person at every restaurant within walking distance of my work so I thought I might just be able to pull a favor and do some good for a stranger.)

Me: sure! The manager at the Banera bread down the way is my brother in law, and they donate all their baked goods every night. I can get you a bag full of anything that's left over. Her: nonononono! Me: what? Her: we need money. Me: I thought you needed food? Her: yes so I can buy food. Me: I can get you food. If you don't like baked goods, or need something long term I volunteer at a food pantry on the other side of town. I can help get you set up there. Her: no I need money, can I please have some? Its It's for the children. Me: I can't give you any money, but I can get you food. Her: you seem like such a nice person, but no we need money.  Can you please do something? My husband is chasing after us and we can't stay. I'm afraid of what he what he would do if he caught up to us. Me: if you're worried about your safety my uncle works at the sheriff department on the other side of the mall, I can give him a call and pass along some of your information. I'm sure he'll be happy to help you.

I had hardly finished talking before she literally floored it and shot away from me. I never had anything so odd happen to me before. But apparently she came back a few more times and tried the same thing with a some if my coworkers.