Scammers are everywhere. One way to tell the true homeless is an unmistakable grundge on their skin. It isn’t that they smell, but they only get to “bathe” by using plain water and a paper towel. They have a definite “dark” tinge to their skin. They seldom have access to soap.
That is so true. Scammers are everywhere. ESP where they know they will have a soft target, and can claim anonymity to manipulate people’s emotions. Groups for veterans, Christians, Patriots, Elderly are like Neon signs for scams.
Be careful out there.
Other ways to size them up is the condition of their shoes, glasses, haircut (e.g. nicely trimmed neck). Many times I have seen clean pair of jeans, clean hands, . . . the unshaven look with a beat up, dirty coat is not enough. Notice the quality of writing on some of their signs.
One regular stood on the corner with a sign that he lived in the woods and his wife was dying from cancer - that went on for at least a couple of years. I was always tempted to ask him how his wife was doing after a year, but engaging some of these people might pose a physical hazard.
Another time I saw a guy crossing the intersection with a backpack talking on the cell phone. When I came back through the intersection 30 minutes later, he was in the median with his homeless sign, playing destitute man, etc.
I say a prayer for help that the Lord give me the ability to see the needy and not become cynical and blinded by the scammer.