...Wait...what?

[Kanalah]

Way back when husband still worked in the DC area, he had a lawyer friend. This friend bragged about panhandling when he didn't have an active case and bragged that he made more money panhandling then he did as a lawyer. I dunno if it was actually true or he was lying.

A few miles near my house is kind of a local panhandling mecca - turnpike exit close to both a super walmart and super target. There is always someone out there. Recently I've seen couples, one will hold the cardboard sign up while the other sits in the shade, talking on a cell phone and babysitting the baby stroller full of packs of soda. Wish I'd taken a picture.

[wagegoth]

There are a lot of professional panhandlers. I've seen them making deposits in ATMs in San Francisco.

[MoonCat]

There used to a woman in our town who would stand out in front of the dept store downtown with a big sign reading "DISABLED TO WORK" (not real big on grammar) and a bunch of BS about being blind. Late in the day, you'd see her strolling off to a nearby parking lot, car keys dangling from her hand...yeah, blind, right.

[bainsidhe]

I've been hit up a couple times for my credit card, always at the gas station to help someone who "couldn't afford gas". Were they actually destitute and in need? No way of knowing, but the cynical part of me doubts it. I've also seen kids with older teen/adult in tow asking if I'd like to buy candy for their school. Out in the far parking lot of WalMart/Target, without a group or any fliers/documentation for their school. Scammer anyone?

[Red_Dazes]

There are some professional panhandlers here in Spokane (but hey that's why we passed the "anti-panhandling law") I've seen one woman various times around the city... one day, right around sun set I saw her carrying her little card board box of "anything helps" and climbing into her brand new SUV. Kind of made me pissed. I don't mind giving people some cash once in a while, when they seem like they are really down on their luck...but too many people take advantage of that now.

[Flying Grype]

Nice clothes don't necessarily mean they're not poor/homeless, because shelters give out clothes that were donated to them. I have seen obviously-not-poor kids begging on the street, not only dressed well but with permed and dyed hair, makeup, blingy jewelry.

I don't give money but I've never been turned down when I've offered food.

This was a neat project: give prepaid credit cards to street people and see how they use them.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...e-credit-cards

[Andara Bledin]

I like how people think this is a new thing. There have been professional panhandlers for as long as there have been people who will trade one thing for another. It's probably the world's second oldest profession.

I've been hit up a couple times for my credit card, always at the gas station to help someone who "couldn't afford gas".
[snippage]
I've also seen kids with older teen/adult in tow asking if I'd like to buy candy for their school. Out in the far parking lot of WalMart/Target, without a group or any fliers/documentation for their school. Scammer anyone?

For the "money for gas" person, you can either offer to buy them some gas (they'll usually scowl at you for that) or start asking where they're going, where they came from, why they're on the road, where their car is, etc, etc (which'll get much the same reaction).

As for selling candy, I don't think I ever had any sort of paperwork or documentation. I just had a box of candy that I could sell for fundraising efforts. the only time I ever had paperwork was when it was something that had to be ordered and would be delivered later.

^-.-^