Anonymous wrote:Still the lady w 2 kids? She has told me once that the older daughter has brain cancer and an different connection the next time. Was not interested in food when we offered it.

That's the Pancoast family, they frequent Northern Virginia mostly lately They've been begging for ages because they are running from a pedo ring and government agents that are trying to steal their kids, etc., and a couple who adopted their 2 oldest kids have a hit on them and are trying to kill them or take their other kids, according to them. Really crazy story. The husband never begs with her. I believe she's had 9 or 10 kids so far. They stay in hotels. One of her daughters did have brain cancer, but she has been cancer free for over a decade, however is blind and really small for her age because of the treatment. She has a G F M that has raised like $180,000 in addition to the begging. If you don't have $ to give her, she'll give you a card with the G F M webpage on it. Just google "Affluent beggars" for an article done on them in the early 2000s. Her husband is super controlling and sexist, and wouldn't allow the wife to have friends or his kids to have friends (I used to read his twitter feed, but I think he got banned), but something must have happened because recently she updated her page that she has finally enrolled the kids in school. I have also seen the Romanian family many times.

Anonymous wrote:When I have time i buy the families a bag or two of groceries, usually around $50. Maybe they are scamming me, but at least their kids will have something to eat.

Thier kids already have plenty to eat.

When I have time i buy the families a bag or two of groceries, usually around $50. Maybe they are scamming me, but at least their kids will have something to eat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're begging in a parking lot, you obviously need the money. It's not a "scam" unless it's purely for buying drugs. Owning a vehicle to drive home in doesn't make it a "scam." It's sad either way. We don't know their life story.

A 2 bedroom apartment goes for what, $3000/month? Gasoline at least $300/month. Our groceries are about $500/week. Cell phone $150. Car payment $300. Utilities $300+. Incidentals like clothing, shoes, medicine, personal hygiene a minimum $300/month for a family. . That's about $6300/month. Begging 5 days a week, 20 days a month, you need $315/day to barely survive. That's tough.

It is a scam because they’ve made it their profession when begging is supposed to only be for those in need/unable to work.

Who are you to judge? You don't actually know anything about these people yet you are actively trying to harm them? WTF?

This is a chosen way of life for many of these families. It’s a culture, and their culture is to grift.

+1

They are gypsies, but I think that’s an outdated term I think they prefer Roma people now. It’s their way of life to scam. They’re very active in Rome however they do more pick pocketing there.

One of their tactics is to hand you or distract you by having you read something while another person steals your belongings. That’s why I don’t even approach them when I see them here. If somebody is following you around the store trying to get you to read something, make sure your hands are on your purse or pockets so they don’t take your wallet.

And it’s not that they are unable to work. Of course they’re able to work, they are able people just like you and me. They choose not to work and to make their living off scamming and grifting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:video of this scam in the DMV... and if you google they are doing this all over the country.

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/fake-violin-player-scam-warning-issued-by-montgomery-county-police-hustle-reported-nationwide

Frankly I don't care whether they can play for real or not, it's the fact that they drag toddlers and babies out for hours to hang out in busy parking lots in the process

If I see a guy standing outside all day pretending to play a fake violin, I’m giving $1! That takes dedication!

My problem is not the fake violin playing, although it’s annoying and I’ll never give them money. It’s the children forced to sit there and smile and wave. I want CPS to take them away.

Not much worse than being forced to sit in church being brainwashed into a cult. Should we call CPS on my evangelical homeschooling neighbor just because I can craft some plausible sounding narrative to support my hate?

If church was in a busy parking lot, and they were forced to do it for money, I would definitely object.

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the refugees being settled here have no way to support themselves yet and are doing this. They legit need the help. Social
Services and welfare only go so far. Either help or don’t, but not every single situation is a scam. If they have young kids and no childcare arrangement that’s probably why the kids are with them.

oh god, you are so naive. these aren't refugees. they are american gypsies.

Panhandling in Fairfax county is not illegal if its in public spaces including road medians. Unfortunately there is no way to really know whether the children brought along by panhandlers are being neglected in any (illegal) way. It certainly feels like a form of abuse/neglect to me, but that's based on my personal opinion. I simply cannot relate to or understand the gypsy groups that CHOSE grifting for living, and it seems like an awful way to bring up a child. But it doesn't meet the legal threshold for breaking the law in most states/counties, so I guess we just have to assume or hope that these children are not being abused or neglected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the refugees being settled here have no way to support themselves yet and are doing this. They legit need the help. Social
Services and welfare only go so far. Either help or don’t, but not every single situation is a scam. If they have young kids and no childcare arrangement that’s probably why the kids are with them.

This. I assume that if the parent could afford childcare they wouldn’t be begging on a street corner.

Why do they need both parents present for "childcare?" Can't one parent work and the other watch the kids?

I guess you don’t have all the info so why do you feel like you know enough to judge a stranger?

Why do you feel like you know enough to "guess" that I don't have all the info?
I do have all the info that is needed. Two able bodied parents do not both need to be present 24/7. One can work--especially when they are literally standing in a shopping center where almost every business has a "help wanted" sign.

What if they don’t have a valid work visa or citizenship? Are you saying that they should break the law just so that you don’t have to see them?

You don't need to be a citizen to get a job here. You do need a valid work visa--if you don't have one, who is sponsoring you? How did you get here with no means of support? Contact your sponsor and demand they fulfill their obligation that they agreed to.

The fact that we could sit here all day making assumptions back and forth is exactly what my point is. It’s all nonsense that is not rooted in reality. These are real people with real children. Who would actually think this is any sort of envious lifestyle? Anyone begging in a parking lot is in dire straights. Organized group or not.

They are not in dire straits. This is the way they choose to make their money and support their families. The children are a prop to garner sympathy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the refugees being settled here have no way to support themselves yet and are doing this. They legit need the help. Social
Services and welfare only go so far. Either help or don’t, but not every single situation is a scam. If they have young kids and no childcare arrangement that’s probably why the kids are with them.

This. I assume that if the parent could afford childcare they wouldn’t be begging on a street corner.

Why do they need both parents present for "childcare?" Can't one parent work and the other watch the kids?

I guess you don’t have all the info so why do you feel like you know enough to judge a stranger?

Why do you feel like you know enough to "guess" that I don't have all the info?
I do have all the info that is needed. Two able bodied parents do not both need to be present 24/7. One can work--especially when they are literally standing in a shopping center where almost every business has a "help wanted" sign.

What if they don’t have a valid work visa or citizenship? Are you saying that they should break the law just so that you don’t have to see them?

You don't need to be a citizen to get a job here. You do need a valid work visa--if you don't have one, who is sponsoring you? How did you get here with no means of support? Contact your sponsor and demand they fulfill their obligation that they agreed to.

The fact that we could sit here all day making assumptions back and forth is exactly what my point is. It’s all nonsense that is not rooted in reality. These are real people with real children. Who would actually think this is any sort of envious lifestyle? Anyone begging in a parking lot is in dire straights. Organized group or not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the refugees being settled here have no way to support themselves yet and are doing this. They legit need the help. Social
Services and welfare only go so far. Either help or don’t, but not every single situation is a scam. If they have young kids and no childcare arrangement that’s probably why the kids are with them.

This. I assume that if the parent could afford childcare they wouldn’t be begging on a street corner.

Why do they need both parents present for "childcare?" Can't one parent work and the other watch the kids?

I guess you don’t have all the info so why do you feel like you know enough to judge a stranger?

Why do you feel like you know enough to "guess" that I don't have all the info?
I do have all the info that is needed. Two able bodied parents do not both need to be present 24/7. One can work--especially when they are literally standing in a shopping center where almost every business has a "help wanted" sign.

What if they don’t have a valid work visa or citizenship? Are you saying that they should break the law just so that you don’t have to see them?

You don't need to be a citizen to get a job here. You do need a valid work visa--if you don't have one, who is sponsoring you? How did you get here with no means of support? Contact your sponsor and demand they fulfill their obligation that they agreed to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the refugees being settled here have no way to support themselves yet and are doing this. They legit need the help. Social
Services and welfare only go so far. Either help or don’t, but not every single situation is a scam. If they have young kids and no childcare arrangement that’s probably why the kids are with them.

This. I assume that if the parent could afford childcare they wouldn’t be begging on a street corner.

Why do they need both parents present for "childcare?" Can't one parent work and the other watch the kids?

I guess you don’t have all the info so why do you feel like you know enough to judge a stranger?

Why do you feel like you know enough to "guess" that I don't have all the info?
I do have all the info that is needed. Two able bodied parents do not both need to be present 24/7. One can work--especially when they are literally standing in a shopping center where almost every business has a "help wanted" sign.

What if they don’t have a valid work visa or citizenship? Are you saying that they should break the law just so that you don’t have to see them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the refugees being settled here have no way to support themselves yet and are doing this. They legit need the help. Social
Services and welfare only go so far. Either help or don’t, but not every single situation is a scam. If they have young kids and no childcare arrangement that’s probably why the kids are with them.

This. I assume that if the parent could afford childcare they wouldn’t be begging on a street corner.

Why do they need both parents present for "childcare?" Can't one parent work and the other watch the kids?

I guess you don’t have all the info so why do you feel like you know enough to judge a stranger?

Why do you feel like you know enough to "guess" that I don't have all the info?
I do have all the info that is needed. Two able bodied parents do not both need to be present 24/7. One can work--especially when they are literally standing in a shopping center where almost every business has a "help wanted" sign.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:video of this scam in the DMV... and if you google they are doing this all over the country.

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/fake-violin-player-scam-warning-issued-by-montgomery-county-police-hustle-reported-nationwide

Frankly I don't care whether they can play for real or not, it's the fact that they drag toddlers and babies out for hours to hang out in busy parking lots in the process

If I see a guy standing outside all day pretending to play a fake violin, I’m giving $1! That takes dedication!

My problem is not the fake violin playing, although it’s annoying and I’ll never give them money. It’s the children forced to sit there and smile and wave. I want CPS to take them away.

Not much worse than being forced to sit in church being brainwashed into a cult. Should we call CPS on my evangelical homeschooling neighbor just because I can craft some plausible sounding narrative to support my hate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're begging in a parking lot, you obviously need the money. It's not a "scam" unless it's purely for buying drugs. Owning a vehicle to drive home in doesn't make it a "scam." It's sad either way. We don't know their life story.

A 2 bedroom apartment goes for what, $3000/month? Gasoline at least $300/month. Our groceries are about $500/week. Cell phone $150. Car payment $300. Utilities $300+. Incidentals like clothing, shoes, medicine, personal hygiene a minimum $300/month for a family. . That's about $6300/month. Begging 5 days a week, 20 days a month, you need $315/day to barely survive. That's tough.

It is a scam because they’ve made it their profession when begging is supposed to only be for those in need/unable to work.

Who are you to judge? You don't actually know anything about these people yet you are actively trying to harm them? WTF?

This is a chosen way of life for many of these families. It’s a culture, and their culture is to grift.