Fake beggar earns £23,000 a year

chatterboxwillie

I'm a bit shocked at how some people are condoning this. Ok, we all like to get a bit extra cash now and then but this is fraud at its purest level surely. This guy is begging, probably on the pretence that he is homeless, and that is fraud. I'm not saying we're all saints but why should this kind of act be praised.

Next we'll be commending 'ladies of the night' and say that they deserve a nice lie down after being on their feet walking the streets!!

Jowo_2

Really2 wrote: »

If he begs for money how is he a fake beggar?

According to the news articles, it's more about pretending to be homeless - begging with a dirty sleeping bag as a prop when he splits his time between a friend's and his girlfriend's flat.

However, while he may not be street homeless, it doesn't look like he's of fixed abode. Another article said he lost his council flat through rent arrears.

Generali

Come off it, nobody seriously believes that all or even most beggars are homeless surely. Next you'll be trying to convince us that it's fraudulent to ask for 10 pence for a cup of tea if it's spent on something else.

I used to know a bloke who if he was asked for 10 pence for a cup of tea would ask them what they were really going to buy and give them the money for it along with a gentle chastisement for lying to him.

Heyman_2

chatterboxwillie wrote: »

I'm a bit shocked at how some people are condoning this.

You and me both!

Here's another experience I had - went to get money from the cashpoint before a night out and some 'homeless' person had set himself up right next to the bank. Asked me for some money and I gave the usual 'no, sorry' - then had some fella approach me from the other side saying 'can you give that guy some money please, he's homeless?'!!!

I was with a group so felt quite comfortable saying 'no' once again, but they were quite clearly operating as a twosome to extract money from people, I expected someone on their own would have been quite intimidated.

I think some of you here haven't had the experience of it happening right in front of your eyes to be condoning it the way you are. We are talking about people who are quite capable but are settling for asking other people for a handout because they know they can make the money.

It makes me sick - sorry if that offends people.

Heyman_2

Generali wrote: »

I used to know a bloke who if he was asked for 10 pence for a cup of tea would ask them what they were really going to buy and give them the money for it along with a gentle chastisement for lying to him.

My sister did something similar when approached a while back - a girl asked her for some money to buy food. So she said 'ok there's a cafe there, I'll get you something - what would you like?'. The answer? 'Oh no it's alright'!!!

Don't get me wrong as obviously I know there are people out there who genuinely need help, but in terms of begging I'm yet to experience anyone who is begging because they need money to live - it's either for drugs, drink or to supplement their benefits.

aliasojo

I think it's very entrepreneurial. :rotfl:

His mistake was claiming benefits, he shouldn't have done that if he was raking in money.

We all have a free will and can weigh things up when we're deciding to give or not give. He was always polite and didn't make anyone hand over cash. If they chose to, then that was their choice.

If he intimidated people into giving him cash then that is entirely different but as far as I understand it, he simply asked. Doesn't really matter if people give because they are a) kind or b) gullible, the fact remains it's their choice to do so.

bendix

aliasojo wrote: »

I think it's very entrepreneurial. :rotfl:

His mistake was claiming benefits, he shouldn't have done that if he was raking in money.

We all have a free will and can weigh things up when we're deciding to give or not give. He was always polite and didn't make anyone hand over cash. If they chose to, then that was their choice.

If he intimidated people into giving him cash then that is entirely different but as far as I understand it, he simply asked. Doesn't really matter if people give because they are a) kind or b) gullible, the fact remains it's their choice to do so.

My view too. Aside from the fact he was claiming benefits (for which he should be prosecuted) I have no intrinsic gripe against beggars. Frankly, I have more respect for them than the scum that sits around on benefits for decades watching tv and eating cakes, expecting us to pay for their lifestyle.

Nobody is being taken for a ride here - people have the choice to give or not give. It's completely up to them.

Heyman_2

aliasojo wrote: »

I think it's very entrepreneurial. :rotfl:

His mistake was claiming benefits, he shouldn't have done that if he was raking in money.

We all have a free will and can weigh things up when we're deciding to give or not give. He was always polite and didn't make anyone hand over cash. If they chose to, then that was their choice.

If he intimidated people into giving him cash then that is entirely different but as far as I understand it, he simply asked. Doesn't really matter if people give because they are a) kind or b) gullible, the fact remains it's their choice to do so.

Give me a break - he was polite so that makes it ok?

Entrerprenureal?

So you'd be comfortable with people lining the streets begging for money if they said 'please' and 'thank you'? Knocking on your door asking for money as long as they said 'excuse me'? I'm sure you'd give every single one of them a pat on the back. :T

Generali

Heyman wrote: »

You and me both!

Here's another experience I had - went to get money from the cashpoint before a night out and some 'homeless' person had set himself up right next to the bank. Asked me for some money and I gave the usual 'no, sorry' - then had some fella approach me from the other side saying 'can you give that guy some money please, he's homeless?'!!!

I was with a group so felt quite comfortable saying 'no' once again, but they were quite clearly operating as a twosome to extract money from people, I expected someone on their own would have been quite intimidated.

I think some of you here haven't had the experience of it happening right in front of your eyes to be condoning it the way you are. We are talking about people who are quite capable but are settling for asking other people for a handout because they know they can make the money.

It makes me sick - sorry if that offends people.

It doesn't offend me in the least. Personally, I think people should be left alone to do what they want as long as they don't harm anyone else.

If a beggar asks me for money then I'll say 'no!' most of the time. If (s)he pushes the point I might be a little more forceful. I once asked the police at Waterloo Station to have a word with a beggar who was being quite aggressive with people in a bar there.

I have never really understood why people get so cross about beggars.

The_White_Horse

they need enforced poor houses. anyone seen begging should be rounded up and thrown in to one at her majesty's pleasure. in the poor house they can work for their food and shelter by doing menial tasks. if they refuse, they will be put in prison.

i don't want to see begging scum on the streets. i pay my taxes to have the streets cleaned of the litter.

some scottish teenager who runs away to london thinking the streets are paved with gold should think twice before coming to my town and becoming a crack !!!!! mess on the streets i walk down.

or alternatively, they should have proper begging areas. they will be closed off so the public can't see them. i know that defeats the point of begging, but at least this way, the bleeding heart liberals will know where to go if they want to help, and an IR officer can be there to make sure the scum pay tax on their income.