Hello to my new circle of friends!!!

I wonder if anyone can help. I feel embarressed posting this, but I could do with some advice. I have a friend on Arizona deathrow. He has started to ask if I could help by sending some money. I do want to help! Other friends are telling me to be careful, that a lot of the inmates write asking for money. I know that they need money for stamps, writing paper, snacks etc. The advice I'm getting is to check out his request for money. I feel as if I'm not trusting him, but other people are telling me that he should understand if I want to be careful. Plus if he has nothing to hide he shouldn't worry about me making inquiries. What do you all think? And does anyone know if there's a way I can phone the prison and ask if he is already recieving financial assisstance from other people? I feel really bad about asking you all this :o Other friends I've asked for advice just keep telling me stories about being taken for a ride by inmates. I think its wrong to categorise every inmate according to one bad experience. Advice, sharing your own experience etc would be really welcomed. Thank you all!!!

anna

anna
How long have you been writing him? If you havent been writing for long, and they send a trust fund form in the first few letters, that isnt a good sign. Perhaps you could explain to him, that you are there to offer support, but cant afford at this time to help him out financially, and get to know him better first. It depends how well you know this person, and how comfortable you are with sending money.

I'm with Kyla.

Of course, I didn't follow that advice. After just corresponding with my penpal for 2 months, he was released, and I moved him into my home. So far, he's an excellent roommate.

Just becareful. However, like you said, it's wrong to summarily dismiss or catagorize every inmate based on one bad experience, or even their past. I wish you and you friend luck, and happiness.

Also, maybe you could start off by sending a small amount? And if his/her demands (or requests) increase rapidly, or beyond your ability to meet, then I'd say that isn't a good sign either.

Again, good luck.

A nice way around this is to say that you are a little short of cash right now but that you hope to send him a small amount for christmas. His response should tell you what you need to know. Good luck with your PP and trust your instincts some are very good at the cash games but some are genuine we just have to be able to tell the difference.
Skyblue

calling, checking to see if others send him financial assistance, etc. you do not need to do all that!!! follow your heart. plus i dont think (well atleast not here in cali) that theyd tell you information about an inmates trust account anyway. if you feel in your heart to send the money then do it. if you start feeling like youre being used by this guy then follow your heart there too. its all up to you. go with how you feel.

Has anyone ever heard of a scam where inmates marry someone, gains their trust and gets them to start sending money to them as a means of saving it, supposedly because they can't save?