Fair questions, H. I'm new to the hobby and found the site when a BP ad mentioned having great reviews on ECCI. As I'm new to the hobby, I think I naturally gravitated to the alerts area in my paranoia.
I have her the donation because she seemed sincere, in need of cash and I'm apparently more gullible than I realized. I thought she might be paying for a full week at the hotel, which she indicated, so I thought I was being a gentleman by being so "generous."
I didn't go into the lobby with her and she ran off without my seeing.
I think this is totally her fault, but I definitely learned a thing or two in this exchange - it was a great initiation into the hobby!