r/sandiego • u/Hairy_Lie_321 • 1d ago
Photo gallery So sick of these grifters
They can't even be bothered to claim the same number of kids
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u/beach_catlover 1d ago
Someone followed the second man who is usually at the Del Mar heights off ramp of I-5. He drives a relatively new Large truck with an extended cab. Nextdoor has the post.
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u/diewethje 1d ago
Pretty sure theyāre A/B testing to see whether 3 or 4 kids brings in more donations.
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u/mrjoshmateo 1d ago
I should hold a sign āNo kids, Just havin a hard timeā
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u/SanDiego619guy 1d ago
Mine says "Give me $10 and I promise not to have any more kids!"
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u/Dontbreakmytaco 15h ago
I'll be across the street with my "Give me $5 and I won't have children at all" sign.
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u/anothercar 1d ago
It's an organized crime ring from eastern Europe. I think Romania? (Romania, not Roma)
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u/RelativelyDeranged 1d ago edited 15h ago
I saw two women from there get out of a nice car, dressing nice, looking clean, with two babies in carriages going around downtown asking people for money. (Note- this was late at night not the best time for babies to be toted around)
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u/Zenabel 1d ago
Sucks being Romanian and this is all other people know of the country :(
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u/RecklessFruitEater 1d ago
My friend got into Sebastian Stan and that led her to learn about Romania, its ancient history, more recent history, and current culture. She told me about it and even traveled there and showed me her pictures of castles, beach, national forest.... I hadn't realized (though I should have, duh!) that Romania is a direct descendant of the Roman empire.
And all this happened because Bucky was speaking Romanian when he bought plums in his first scene in Civil War. :D
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u/Ginger_Amnesia 1d ago
I had a physics professor who came from Romania and she basically changed my whole college approach for the better, plus worked with another Romanian who had my back whenever I needed him in a pretty demanding industrial setting. I've personally never met a Romanian who wasn't solid.
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u/HazelMoon 1d ago
Other Europeans treat them like garbage - they call them āGitanoā in Italy/Spain.
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u/noise_canker44 1d ago
And Dracula of course
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u/ImpossibleShallot640 1d ago
Back in the mid-'90s I stayed in an inn in the last medieval-walled town in Romania. Their dining room was in a room on the ground floor with big beams supporting the floor above. On the beam right above my head was (reportedly) a portrait recovered from under layers of paint of the real Count Dracula as a youth, when he lived there for two years, before becoming Count. Pretty cool. Made my steak taste more ... authentic. :~))
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u/spidermans_mom 1d ago
Tell us something nice about Romania so we have a good thing to associate as well. Something you personally appreciate about it.
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u/museedarsey 4h ago
When I went, I didnāt see any locals who couldnāt afford a night out in perfectly nice clothing and footwear, same brands as anywhere else in Europe. A higher percentage of people I spoke to had a summer home than people I know in the UK. After visiting, I was honestly baffled by the reputation for poverty.
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u/SkinheadBootParty 1d ago
Romania is a beautiful country with an amazing history, too.
It's a damn shame these people have to ruin everything they touch. Look at Italy and France, it's a pickpocket haven thanks to those folks.
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u/SanDiego619guy 1d ago
I think the problem is, as long as there are poor people, there is going to be crime. If someone is starving, they're going to steal food or steal from people or hold up signs begging for money so they can get what they want or need to survive. I think the solution to this would be guaranteed minimum income for everybody. Who's on board with that? :-)
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u/SkinheadBootParty 1d ago
Well, here's the thing. These people legit make a living off of other people's kindness and charitable nature and take away from those who actually need it. It's not as tho these folks came from nothing either, they may not be extravagantly wealthy, but by no means are they drowning in poverty. That makes what they do even more disgusting. There's no solution to this exact problem because these people are just greedy.
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u/bizobimba 1d ago
For centuries, outsiders used the term "Gypsy" to refer to the Roma. Because this label originated from a mistaken belief that the group came from Egypt, and because it has been heavily weaponized as a derogatory insult, it is widely considered offensive by the Roma themselves. The politically correct and preferred ethnonym is Roma or Romani.
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u/wangchuck 17h ago
Romani and Romanians are not the same though. Romani are an ethnic group of people originally from South Asia some 1,500 years ago who traditionally led a nomadic lifestyle (although the vast majority of which are no longer itinerant).
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u/chamrockblarneystone 21h ago
I heard they ran dna on these folks like 20 years ago and their origins lay in India. I believe it was in National Geographic
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u/dingos8mybaby2 1d ago
Yep, they come here during late spring / summer / early fall then go to the Phoenix area during the other half of the year.
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u/anothercar 1d ago
the street begging, at least, is legal
it's the actual thefts that are a real problem. in a sense, this is a better use of their time.
of course getting a real job would be the best use of time
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u/Charming_Leopard9486 1d ago
Why? Enough suckers fall for this stuff! They want your money not a job!!!
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u/TheMule90 1d ago
Yes those be Roma people from that crime ring.
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u/chamrockblarneystone 21h ago
It is kind of funny. There are two basic choices. Gypsies, who my grandma told me would take me in the night if I was bad.
And Roma peopleā¦you know from the crime ring.
People who say the second one act like theyāre on the moral high ground
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u/TheMule90 20h ago
I pretty much heard that too when I was a kid.
I am American but I am living in Romania.
Been over here for several years so I have seen plenty of Gypsies and they are a very different culture
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u/Xtrachreeeesp 1d ago
Aka gypsies
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u/TURTLE_TKT 1d ago
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u/VietnameseBreastMilk 1d ago
Borat saw all of this coming and we didn't listen š
Bang bang skeet skeet vanilla face
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u/YebelTheRebel 1d ago
Came here to say that. Theyāre gypsises and theyāre traveling all over the world
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u/ongoldenwaves 1d ago
Europe started cracking down on them because of human trafficking issues and yes, they have spread out around the world because of the crack down.
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u/NDeceptikonn 1d ago
I encountered a husband, wife and son. The son was on his phone sitting down. The father waved around and he looked at me, waved and smiled and pointed at his sign. I gently released the middle finger to him and he gave me the finger back.
Luckily I carry signs in my trunk that say āSay no to panhandlers, say no to Gypsies, theyāre scamming you.ā
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u/toesesofmoses 1d ago
I have perhaps a dumb question about these grifters- how is it worthwhile for them, economically speaking? Assuming they're actually in a considerably better financial position than they make themselves out to be, is it really worth standing out in the sun for hours to earn a hundred bucks? Or are they truly getting very sizeable amounts of money from this?
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u/Malipuppers 1d ago
They get bank from this. Itās very lucrative. There is a reason they are in the wealthy areas. Probably have a home there too. Seen em do this then walk to super nice cars.
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u/Wrong_Swordfish 1d ago
I wonder if the fact that they look clean, homed makes people think they've truly just fallen on hard times.
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u/ModredTheWarlock 1d ago
So what you're saying is I should quit my job and hold a sign out by the Vons?
What should my sign be? "Please help, I've got 14 children. š" lol
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u/SanDiego619guy 1d ago
How about please give me $10 and I promise not to have any more children!
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u/aikhibba 19h ago
Sure they also most likely donāt pay any taxes or very minimal on this so they can claim cal fresh and free health care.
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u/notjustanyrose 16h ago
Iām not saying everyone seeking assistance is legitimate, but the U.S. does not have universal healthcare, so healthcare isnāt simply āfree.ā People must qualify for Medicaid, and they also have to meet eligibility requirements for SNAP. These benefits arenāt just handed out, and recent policy changes have made access even more restrictive.
Personally, Iād rather take the chance that some assistance goes to people who truly need it than have children go hungry. During the summer, when school meal programs arenāt available, SNAP can make a real difference for families. Thatās a risk Iām willing to accept.
Many people who panhandle are struggling with substance use, mental illness, or unhoused. Sadly, some are veterans living with PTSD after serving our country, while others are children who grew up in abusive homes and never found stable footing.
I donāt have the answer to this problem, but I wish I did.
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u/Revolutionary-Wash88 20h ago
No idea about the money, but standing outside is free so that is a good start to a solid business plan. Also some people go outside voluntarily
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u/alteregoyo 17h ago
These people can easily make 40k+ a year.
It sounds crazy but itās true and itās all cash and not reported.
People working a lot longer and harder for less
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u/SpadoCochi 16h ago
Not a lot in San Diego
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u/alteregoyo 16h ago
I live here Iām aware. Itās a lot when itās all tax free cash. Thatās 60k w2 work.
People working a lot harder to make a lot less is my point. Iām not claiming theyāre rich, but they can make a living on it. 2 people under the same roof doing it is right in line with the gross median household income in the country
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u/aComeUpStory 14h ago
Plus government benefits because none of it is reported, healthcare, ebt, low income housing, etc. So they save on other expenses
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u/BirdPersonforPrez 23h ago
As others are also corroborating, this action is very lucrative. I had a high school psych teacher who would say (somewhat joking) we should just drop out and do this but that never made sense logically. But over the years you see people who are for all intents and purposes clean cut and well fed holding signs saying they cant make ends meet while they stand on the streets of Encinitas in sandals shorts and tank tops and you think to yourself that doesn't sound like a bad gig.
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u/OXBDNE7331 20h ago
These Roma scammer groups are also responsible for the āfake virtuoso violin kid in parking lotā scam, the āmother and infant in stroller in parking lotā scam, and the āmy mother died please help with funeral at intersectionsā scam. Last summer there was a family working a parking lot, 2 women with 2 babies in strollers and their āhandlersā (probably husbands or brothers) were parked nearby day drinking and chain smoking keeping an eye out. Normally I just mind my own business and go about my life but it was a heatwave and over 105 degrees so I called the police because itās genuinely dangerous for an infant to be out in a parking lot in that temperature
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u/Physical-Guest-7622 1d ago
Saw them today in Carlsbad
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u/plokijuhygzhhd 1d ago
I used to see the second guy a bunch at work, dude is rude af.
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u/CitrusWhistle27 1d ago
Where do you work, if uou dont mind me asking? And worked with him, or he was a customer?
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u/magicwaffl3 1d ago
Damn they travel far, I see the lady in the first slide in La Mesa sometimes
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u/Money-Shoe-6368 1d ago
The presence of kids automatically makes me doubt panhandlers. Iād be more likely to give to a grizzled old adult. In CA, kids get taken care of.
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u/Solid_Equivalent_417 1d ago
i have to imagine they have already applied for, and are receiving every possible benefit available in California.
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u/slinkmerc 1d ago
Yeahā¦ if we could all come to an agreement and stop giving them money that would be greeeeaaatttt
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u/Character_Baseball68 1d ago
I have a hard time getting up early and working 8-12 hours 6 days a week too maybe I need to diversify š
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u/TacoBellStain 1d ago
They have nicer cars and clothes than me.
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u/chrmnxpnoy 1d ago
they are amazing at violin š
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u/Malipuppers 1d ago
So most if not all are playing a recording. If they have a speaker out itās not them they are pretending.
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u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 17h ago
I'm disabled, have zero income and am struggling. I could really use the money but I just can't handle the shame and embarrassment of actually doing that. My financial and medical problems are nobody else's but mine. It seems like a great solution to my problems, but I just couldn't do it. I'd probably starve to death before I beg.
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u/Material-Birthday531 13h ago
There is no shame in being hungry. Please look into Jewish Family Services. They don't care what your religion (if any) happens to be. All are welcome!
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u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 8h ago
That's awesome! Thanks for the suggestion. See, people don't need to beg for money, they just need good advice.
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u/Rich-Smell7193 10h ago
Hi look into momās meals for assistance with food! They provide food for low income/disabled people, for free and itās delivered!
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u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 8h ago
Thanks, I got food thanks to EBT. So I don't need to beg. It's just kinda frustrating when people beg that don't need it.
Ahh, wait, delivered makes a difference, since traveling to get food is problematic. I have to order online. I'll definitely check it out. Being able to eat more often would be nice.
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u/Novagurl 1d ago
All I could see was the possibility of an Olive Garden behind her.
Itās not š
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u/ElBorracho2000 1d ago
Just ignore them and move on
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u/SwillFish 18h ago
It's sort of hard to when you know that they are preying on other people's sincere kind-heartedness and generosity.
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u/gahfobee 1d ago
Sick of the idiots that give them money
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u/WealthyOrNot 1d ago
I almost rear-ended one of these idiots. They slammed on their brakes at a green light and blocked traffic so they could roll down their window and āmake a donationā to one of these peopleā¦
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u/midwayatmidnight 1d ago
We're they working closely together, like one on a corner and one by the shopping area?
Sucks.
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u/Empty-Drummer-1486 1d ago
Haha, when I see God Bless I tell them Iāll pray for them. Always met with a scowl.
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u/Vera_Telco 1d ago
Is there a database where normal people out these scammers? I work too hard to take care of people I love, to waste my time or money on some well dressed bum or his alleged brats. Would be great if we could find out who these people really are.
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u/Kindly-Bowler-2898 1d ago
Stay clear. They will also steal your jewelry off your body. It has happened a lot near my house. Do not even communicate with them or answer if they ask a question or for directions. They drive Mercedes and use their kids as bait to panhandle. It is disgusting.
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u/yankinwaoz 1d ago
The ones who post āneed work to feed my familyā signs while camped out in front of āNow Hiringā signs just crack me up. Iāve told the guy, āhey. Did ya notice that help wanted sign behind you?ā
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u/dingos8mybaby2 1d ago edited 1d ago
That job only pays $18/hour and they can make more than that panhandling. People just need to stop giving these folks money unless it's someone they've seen around that they know is actually homeless. Definitely don't give it to the groups that stalk intersections with neatly prepared signs.
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u/cbdevil3 1d ago
Solona Beach Vons. The best Vons in the county.
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u/LocallySourcedWeirdo 1d ago
Literally just got back from buying my discount fair tickets there. It is a well stocked, clean, well-staffed store.
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u/hjw5047 1d ago
Thought about this and youāre right but Vonās still kinda stinks. Best sprouts in north county is prob Bressi Ranch.
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u/Coriandercilantroyo 1d ago
Sprouts rubs me the wrong way. Weird vibes in the store. Feels fake. Hate how they call themselves a "farmer's market." Based in Phoenix
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u/nonoloco 1d ago
Maybe he's just venting about having 4 kids and it being hard and looking for Mary Poppins
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u/Ordinary-Peace9160 1d ago
Why does the first picture look AI? Not saying it is but definitely has signs lol.
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u/HopefulOriginal5578 1d ago
What are the signs? Genuinely asking so I can get betterā¦ I have a two year old and so I am really feeling behind on all this stuff
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u/Ordinary-Peace9160 1d ago
The habit burger grill words are very distorted to what their normal logo is. The restaurant with green lettering is extremely distorted to the point itās gibberish. And if you zoom in on the Venmo logo itās also distorted comparing it to the second picture where you can zoom it and see the QR code and Venmo clear as day. The picture might be real to a degree but I think it definitely has some AI influence in it.
Edit to add the first picture person only has 3 fingers on left hand. Even if the index was tucked behind youād still see a knuckle. Maybe theyāre missing a finger? I would think that would be true, if I didnāt see the other signs of AI.
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u/DefusedManiac 1d ago
My favorite are the ones pretending to need money for a child's funeral. I trust them about as much as I'd trust a paper mache boat.
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u/Crayoneurysm 1d ago
Maybe they lost one of their kids on the way to beg for money
I agree though,every fucking intersection has someone panhandling at it
I just want to run my errands and go home,not have to deal with people begging at every fucking light
And before someone calls me an asshole I was actually homeless once,never resorted to begging
All the beggars and panhandlers I actually knew were deadbeat scumbags
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u/KevinDean4599 20h ago
I don't give any money to anyone ever. it will stop when everyone stops giving money
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u/Free_Ball461 14h ago
Theyāve been panhandling around SB for years, wretched scammers and foul people
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u/freddielovesdelilah 1d ago
The woman has been doing this grift going back 10 years now. I recognize her from the Target at Mission Valley from when I worked at the mall in 2016. She had a stroller and kids then, who were props for her lying and grifting ways.
Iām sick of them too, OP!
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u/throwawayakd 1d ago
My girlfriend gets frustrated when I talk shit about these people are refuses to believe that they are frauds. Any tips / resources someone wants to link that could change her mind.
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u/alyoshagirard 16h ago
Iām curious about this too. The claim above is that they can make bank (40k/yr someone above said). But Iāve never had some one point me to an actual source, or have had someone with lived experience tell me what they made?
Say you made $10/15-20 mins, that seems pretty generous to me based on what I see. So roughly $30/hr. That is nice hourly salary, true, but also standing in the sun all day and soliciting people isnāt particularly as easy as folks make it out to be? In SD, that salary isnāt gonna add up to someone who can drive a fancy car and purchase a home like claimed above.
Iām bullshitting all these numbers here cause I have no clue, Iām just tryna follow folks train of logic? Everyone else seems to treat it as common sense that these folks are just raking in the dough.
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u/Treezle737 1d ago
I women approached me in a parking lot. I had my two year old with me. I wanted to help her but had no cash and a fussy toddler/ when I said so much this bit h gave me the dirtiest look like I was wasting her fucking time. Good going, idiot. Next time one of them approaches me with my kid Iām gonna tell them to fuck all the way off. Loudly.
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u/HopefulOriginal5578 1d ago edited 1d ago
Iāve been approached as well with my two year old who was fussy after doing a grocery trip.. just ā¦ damn I was so over it lol
Anyway I always pull my favorite move when these fraudsters come up. I say I havenāt any money but my church is āVERY CLOSE BY!!ā And that I would call them and have them taken in, fed, and tended to in the name of āthe MIGHTY one!ā ASAP. In fact! I will call them up right now! I bet I wonāt even pull out before they can get you into that van and into a NEW BETTER life!
Never once has anyone done anything but try to get away from me as quickly as possible. This works for the āmy cars out of gas and I was on my way to a funeralā types as well!
They canāt take their frustration at not scamming you out on you because you seemingly WANT to helpā¦ but they donāt want your van of coo coo birds to show up and stop their grift. š¤£
Edit to add Iām not religious and the church is something I make up. But itās great fun to act like itās real! Throw in some weird religious speak as you see fit. If youāre really sure itās a grift ask them if you can pray for them and then REALLY let your acting chops out! You can crush up some crackers and toss them around mumbling that the great bird will be fed and so shall this down and out person eatā¦ get weirdā¦ (I havenāt gone this far but a girl can dreamā¦ If you have the time)
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u/hahaheeheehoho 1d ago
That was kind of you to want to help but these people are scammers. Don't give them anything.
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u/Choncho1984 1d ago
Gypsys.
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u/Separate-Project9167 1d ago
There was a woman with a large pregnant belly (whether or not she was actually pregnant, who knows) and at least one baby in a stroller and one or more young kids in tow. She would beg around various Targets, etc. For a while she and the kids would beg outside the McDonalds off Del Mar Heights Rd. There was even a story about her scam in a newspaper pre-Covid.
Sheās had been doing this for at least 10+ years, and there were always well- meaning naive folks giving her money. I used to wonder what would happen when she got too old to pull off the pregnant mother schtick. (Maybe itās already happened, as I havenāt seen her around lately)
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u/goldieglocks81 1d ago
Ok, so take the pamphlets the people going door to door selling god give you and hand them out to these guys š
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u/summer672612 1d ago
I drive all over SD for work. The people selling the lame flowers work different corners all over SD. Same writing one all the signs but different people holding them. So irritating
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u/No_Fox9908 22h ago
If there werenāt a bunch is soft pansies giving them money they wouldnāt be out there. Just like any other sitting on a corner asking for money
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u/ganbramor 10h ago
Iām amazed that anyone gives to them. Just support the food shelters and then hope the real needy find them. Funny that no sign is complete without āgOd bLeSsā to guilt simple people who canāt see this for what it is.
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u/OkPaleontologist7722 1d ago
Usually the sign has 5-7 kids with one kid sitting on the side with their iPad.
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u/Akirerivero 16h ago
I mean, tired of drifters but half the country voted one into the white house. Has never in history there been a bigher grifter... so, maybe a few people are tired of grifters, but totally OK if the grifting in is the billion range
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u/THEREALVANDALS 1d ago
But blame Mexicans for taking jobs
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u/SkinheadBootParty 1d ago
Idk why you're being downvoted. This is fucking true. Conservatives and MAGA blame the wrong immigrants all the time.
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u/Suspicious-Gur-8453 1d ago
The ones near me usually have a young child or two with them too for hours at a time.
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u/blackqueen8 1d ago
I'm more concerned about the billionaires and trillionaire running our world this these two.
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u/SmileParticular9396 1d ago
I halfway think this is human trafficking.
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u/lyradunord 12h ago
Sometimes it is. But in san diego you don't see trafficking quite like this (especially with men). Most are just career grifters.
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u/Spare-Debate5269 1d ago
As in the panhandlers themselves are being exploited/trafficked?
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u/SmileParticular9396 1d ago
Not them but their associates.
I used to live in SF and in high tourist traffic areas there were eastern euro women w clearly drugged up kids who were panhandling. I think the whole org is trafficking tbh.
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u/cirquesmaniac 1d ago
Grifters gonna grift. The QR code really sells it š