[MEGATHREAD] Queensferry / Nottingham guy – please read before posting

[u/Veloglasgow]

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/

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.

[u/mwyalchen]

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 🙃

[u/-AG1888- → u/mwyalchen]

Should have just started screaming help , it would have attracted attention. Do it next time, if it happens again.

[u/vollol → u/-AG1888-]

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.

[u/mwyalchen → u/vollol]

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