It’s Only A Paper Scam

A customer is paying for his pizza.

Me: “That’ll be $8.79.”

The customer hands me a $20. I hand him his change.

Customer: “Can you break this $10 for me?”

Me: “Would you like two fives or do you need some ones?”

Customer: “A five and five ones.”

He holds onto the $10 bill while I start to count that out.

Customer: “You know, I’ve changed my mind. Make that two fives.”

I start to put the ones away.

Customer: “Here, if I give you this $10 then can we make that a $20?”

Remember, he still has the original $10 in his hand.

This all sounds easy to keep track of when I’m typing this story. And I’m a pretty bright guy, and good with numbers. But he had the timing down, so that trying to keep track of all the changes while I’m physically counting the cash has overwhelmed me. Fortunately, I saw this scam long ago in the movie “Paper Moon.”

Me: “Stop! I’m lost. We’re starting over. Here’s your original twenty. That money in your hand is the change I gave you. Hand it back to me, and I’ll give you the twenty. Now. What do you want?”