Maputo Con Man

This morning I was doing some shopping and as I walked home I was approached by a man in a suit and tie.

"Hi, do you remember me?" he said.

I looked at him curiously and said "No, I don't believe I do."

"Oh, I'm the man from customs at the airport. I look a little different without my uniform."

Since I had just dealt with customs recently, I thought maybe I had seen him there.

"Are you traveling soon?" he asked.

"No, I don't have anything planned."

Then he said, "I was trying to get to work, but my car ran out of gas. Would you have some cash you could spare?"

I had a cautious feeling so I said, "No I really can't give you any."

"Just 50 MTs so I could get a couple of liters? Then next time you come through customs I'll be your friend!"

I declined again, he shook my hand and I left.

A few yards away I stopped at a sidewalk stand to make another purchase. A man was standing there and asked me if I knew that person. I said I didn't and asked if he was a good person or not. "Actually, he's a 'mafioso,'" he said.