One consequence is that if you're ever being attacked on the street while passers by walk on, don't just shout for help: select a particular passer by and ask them for help as specifically as you can.
I fear my first thought would be that they were confederates and this was a 419-like scam.
(This is London, of course people try 419-like scams face to face.)
Anyone running such a scam would be well advised to wait until the mark is the only person nearby before starting their performance.
I'd be really interested to hear what the Less Wrong community thinks of this. Don't spoil it by reading the comments first.
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