Mama always said it is a good way to get killed but 9 times out of 10 I will pick up a hitchhiker if they are traveling the same direction as me, there are no kids in the car,  and I'm not running terribly late.  What about you? 

Edit: Where do you live? As one poster pointed out in their country it is a really bad idea.  Here in the USA perhaps you have better odds.

I would imagine more times than not when approached at a gas station that I've allowed myself to be scammed out of cash by those "down on their luck". More times than not I will go ahead and give them 20 or 40 bucks.  Have you ever been approached by one of these people? If so how do you normally handle it?

No, I'm a paranoid being myself so there's no way I'd be comfortable doing that.

In my country (Brazil) that's a good way to get yourself killed, robbed, or both. So i rarely if ever pick up hitchhikers. Then again it's very rare to see anyone asking for a ride, as getting in a car driven by a stranger is also a good way to get yourself killed, robbed or both.

You don't see near as many these days hitchhiking as you did when I was a kid.  I've had to walk 5+ miles a couple of times in my life and I have yet to ask for a ride.  The worst one was a 12 mile walk in the middle of winter.  I'm not sure why I feel safer giving a ride than getting one ...

No, I don't pick up hitchhikers. It's easy having a goof up with some absolute stranger and you're also behind the wheel so you can't do much about it.

Well, what can I give those who beg for money? I'm a mere student myself.
I calmly tell them "No."

I try not to talk to poor people.

No that is what Uber is for now.

i guess being in control of the vehicle and where to go helps increase the sense of security. It's kind of an implied deterrence. If they try anything funny, there's a chance you could crash the car and they'd be potentially killed/hurt in the process. Or you could eject their seat if you car have that option.

I don't pick up hitch hikers. When I was 18-21, I would pick up kids after school in my hometown and let them ride in the back of the truck if they were going my way, but that was also a small town.

And I will never give money to a bum. I'll give them water, a snack, left over fast food, etc; but I will never support their transient lifestyle. Others can do what they want, but I'll take no part in it.

nope and nope