What to do if you see beggars with little children

[Anonymous]

I saw something I am not really used to seeing in the USA, a couple (first there was a woman only, then a man came) with a couple of little kids and one stroller begging with a cardboard sign in a parking lot in a rather affluent area.
I've only seen beggars with kids a few times in my life, a couple of times on NYC subway and once on the street in San Francisco where a mother and her two early teenage kids were seemingly homeless settling for the night begging people for money. Horrible and very depressing sight, which always leaves me wondering what to do, because giving them money isn't a solution. My other concern is whether the adult beggars are even the parents of the kids. There was a story in NYC where a babysitter was taking the baby with her to professionally beg and parents didn't know anything about this. In other countries children are often trafficked and drugged to work as beggars with their fake moms who are professionals. This is what really breaks my heard and I don't know what to do.

If this is a real family, what really would push them to go into the parking lot and stand with a sign? They didn't look really ragged, kids had nice newish clothes on and the stroller wasn't tattered.. I hope these kids are ok and I feel terrible that I went by and hurried to get back to work and did nothing for them.

[Anonymous]

It’s a scam. There’s a welfare system. They are trying to play on your emotions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a scam. There’s a welfare system. They are trying to play on your emotions.

Big time. Watch them all day and sometimes the kids get swapped out and at the end of another tough day they all get in their SUV and head home.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. They're scammers, and more than likely the kids aren't even theirs.

[Anonymous]

Immediately call the police

[Anonymous]

Nothing.

I'm from Paris, where I've been immunized by years of having to literally step over gypsy women with decoratively dirty infants on Metro steps, sent there to beg by the gypsy "mafia". Begging and pick-pocketing is what they do professionally, and it's terrible for the kids who are dragooned into it and lose any chance at integrating into society.

Do not encourage beggars on highway dividers, it's extremely dangerous for them to stand there, and please do not enable those with children from doing the same. There are homeless shelters, there are women and children centers, there are food pantries, and even though none of these things are perfect, it's still safer than standing a hair's breadth from passing cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing.

I'm from Paris, where I've been immunized by years of having to literally step over gypsy women with decoratively dirty infants on Metro steps, sent there to beg by the gypsy "mafia". Begging and pick-pocketing is what they do professionally, and it's terrible for the kids who are dragooned into it and lose any chance at integrating into society.

Do not encourage beggars on highway dividers, it's extremely dangerous for them to stand there, and please do not enable those with children from doing the same. There are homeless shelters, there are women and children centers, there are food pantries, and even though none of these things are perfect, it's still safer than standing a hair's breadth from passing cars.

How do I get the info on all these resources and pass it to them? Maybe give them a brochure how to get help? I work for a living full time and have my own kids, so not really volunteering anywhere and have no idea how to help, and I know giving them money will only worsen the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immediately call the police

I actually considered it, but would it be emergency number? My main concern in these cases if these kids are theirs, no kid should be exploited and even if it's their own kids, they shouldn't be exploiting them like this either given other resources exist for families with kids. I am sure if they went to the nearby church, they could get help there and directed to places where resources are provided. I certainly want to hope so, that we have some security net for such families.

[Anonymous]

What kind of parking lot were they in? A shopping center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing.

I'm from Paris, where I've been immunized by years of having to literally step over gypsy women with decoratively dirty infants on Metro steps, sent there to beg by the gypsy "mafia". Begging and pick-pocketing is what they do professionally, and it's terrible for the kids who are dragooned into it and lose any chance at integrating into society.

Do not encourage beggars on highway dividers, it's extremely dangerous for them to stand there, and please do not enable those with children from doing the same. There are homeless shelters, there are women and children centers, there are food pantries, and even though none of these things are perfect, it's still safer than standing a hair's breadth from passing cars.

How do I get the info on all these resources and pass it to them? Maybe give them a brochure how to get help? I work for a living full time and have my own kids, so not really volunteering anywhere and have no idea how to help, and I know giving them money will only worsen the problem.

They have all the information they need on how to get real help. These people are professionals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of parking lot were they in? A shopping center?

A big parking lot, your typical suburban strip mall shopping center

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of parking lot were they in? A shopping center?

A big parking lot, your typical suburban strip mall shopping center

How many of the businesses in that strip mall had “now hiring” signs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. They're scammers, and more than likely the kids aren't even theirs.

That's the point.. What do I do? I wasn't the only one who saw them in the broad daylight in the middle of the day, many people coming and going and ignoring it. What if these kids are trafficked, exploited? I know in other countries this happens, but it's illegal in the USA to beg with kids I would think. It's basically a red flag, but I don't know what to do without dragging myself into it, and I don't want to have to provide my personal info a lot to be the local "Karen" meddling into other people's lives. My guess is that they are pros, or just opportunists? The man seemed to be angry at the woman, maybe she wasn't begging enough and getting enough attention? He wasn't physical or anything, just annoyed and started holding the sign himself. Kids looked really bored stuck around the stroller and getting restless, who knows what happens to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of parking lot were they in? A shopping center?

A big parking lot, your typical suburban strip mall shopping center

How many of the businesses in that strip mall had “now hiring” signs?

I didn't pay attention TBH, just running my errands during my work break

[Anonymous]

I saw a family doing that in the parking lot of Giant in McLean on a freezing cold day. I felt awful for those children but also thought it was a scam.