Another scam

[Scunner]

Maybe it is a scam, maybe she earns £20 every half hour and drives a brand new BMW once she's out of sight. My point was more that it would be a real shame if people who are attempting to scam change all of our opinions across the board - because there are very genuine people with very genuine hardship over there.

[Julesp]

And my original post was a response to this



20 lira for milk. What was she doing? Buying a cow.

Was just pointing out baby milk here is expensive

[Heather Davis]

I can't but help agree with Keith about the current hardship's that the ordinary Joe is experiencing in Turkey at the moment.The unemployment rate in the Fethiye area in the winter is dreadful and there are no state handouts to fall back on.

Without the support of friend's and family many people would starve. Unfortunately, sometimes whole families are in the same situation and the way they have to get by is very humbling.

I know a number of Turkish people and many have told me that because of Tourism, compared to twenty or thirty years ago, Fethiye is now a land of milk and honey. Make's you think!

Sunnyd is really the font of knowlege about all thing's Turkish, not only has she lived in the area for a long time but speaks perfect Turkish. I would appreciate her thought's on the subject. Of course there are scams going on, there always will be someone taking advantage of an opportunity.

[Old Daffodil]

If there is a genuine need for baby milk by mothers it sounds as if a way of providing subsidised milk is needed.Maybe the mothers are not receiving a proper diet and cannot feed babies. This sounds more like a confidence trick though.

[sunnyd]

I'm not quite sure what input I can provide on this subject... but I'll have a go  
With regards to the Turkish woman knocking on doors, saying she is a neighbour and needs money for milk for her child,... well I think that this is a scam.
I do know that money is tight at this time of year, for Turkish people, and probably ex pats too.
Jobs are quite plentiful in the season, but in winter months, (especially if you work within the tourism industry), then jobs are quite hard to come by.
A typical Turkish family,(eg;husband at work, wife at home), may earn around 600TL per month. So that alone makes it very difficult to live. Prices have gone up on everything here, even fruit and veg.
Baby powder milk is expensive in Turkey, but that is not an excuse to go door to door asking for money.
As Hoopsman said there are charities that can be contributed to, and like him I never give money to a beggar. If they say they need bread.. I will buy a loaf and give it to them.
Even after all the years of tourism there is (sadly) still the odd person that thinks ex pats are full of money (or at least, better off than them), and they try it on. It has happened to me, even though I work for money to live, am a single parent with no help from my childs father, and no benefits from the Government.
People ask me about the prospect of Turkey joining the EU, my answer is always the same... if that means that they start to provide benefits then so be it! I can remember when Celal was 1 year old, I had just divorced, and returned to work. I was repping in Fethiye, an English couple had 'a go at me' because I was working, and my child was with a childminder, they said that I should be at home with my son and be claiming. Then I told them that unfortunately there aren't any government benefits in Turkey! This is what needs to change.  
I have found it hard living here on a standard wage.... but have never begged.
So, although you will meet people that live hand to mouth, it is hard for them.. but begging isn't the answer... and I for one wouldn't give in to that. I'd find another way to try to help.

This is my personal experience and opinion  

[Heather Davis]

I pretty much agree with all you've said - thank you for your input Nikki.

[posleeds]

Well said sunnyd.

There is no excuse for knocking on doors of total strangers & I too feel it is a scam.
I hope it makes others think just how hard it is for the typical Turkish family to survive- 600TL per month(and that can often just be through the six months "holiday season") - equates to approx £236 per month over a 6 month period or £118 if you have to eek it out over the whole year!  Not a lot !
I really admire how some families survive - the cost of petrol being more than the UK & electricity being comparable - it's not suprising there are few people with cars & light fittings only have one bulb in a 3/5 bulb shade!
As for baby milk...it is expensive here, as is all baby equipment/clothing.  I can never understand why any Mother would feel the need to bottle feed unless there is some medical reason why they can't breast feed.
It's the perfect formula, sterile, on tap (so to speak), easy - it goes where you go - no need for bottles/sterilizing & most important it's free.
Lets hope Turkish women have a change of heart & go back to what is best for baby - "au natural"!

[Old Daffodil]

I agree that breast feeding is a good thing if possible having done so myself but the mother has to be healthy and well fed to do this. On the amount of wages you are speaking about I wonder if the mothers diet is adequate. Protein food such as meat, cheese and eggs are expensive items on a shopping list. If a feeding mother does not have enough calcium in her diet her teeth and bones will be affected and it might also be felt by the baby.At least in Turkey there is plenty of sunlight and yoghurt is not expensive. If an underfed mother feeds a new baby then you end up with both of them suffering.
In Britain we used to have clinics where you could buy subsidised baby milk and things like malt and vitamins. I don't think they exist now but maybe something like that is needed in Turkey if it is not already available.

[posleeds]

I agree with what your saying, but protein can be found in a host of other foods too such as beans,nuts & seeds all of which are plentiful in Turkish food.
I'm sure a simple Turkish diet is far healthier than the majority of English food eaten, if it was analysed spoonful by spoonful.
Bread is also sold cheap...subsidised by the Government...as a "filling agent" in order that the Turkish people don't go hungry.

[Scunner]

I will tell you why the British are targeted for cons abroad. If you find a conman who can give you straight answers and ask them why they conned you/whoever, they will nearly always say the same thing. Because we are easier. Bear that in mind everyone