sob story 
noun informal
A story or explanation intended to make someone feel sympathy for the person relating it: Emma fell for every sob story she was told...
- I'm not pleading for sympathy or giving you a sob story, that's not my style, but it is really, really getting to me.
- As careful reporters and producers demonstrated over and over again, a story that makes you cry need not be a sob story, and should not be.
- He hands over his expense money in an airport when he falls for a sob story from a woman.