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I would think a "criminal beggar" as you call it could come up with an equally convincing sob story which doesn't involve revealing a "criminal" background. In my anecdotal experiences, random strangers asking for money almost always give the excuse that their church bus full of children broke down 10 blocks away in the bad part of town, etc.

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Isn't that exactly why claiming you're a recently released criminal would work? Who would use that as a fake story, in our society?

It's people who beg for money that have a story that makes them sounds like they're down on their luck that I think most people are wary of.

(I was bit by the 'thought I had more cash in my wallet, trying to get to a city 40-50 miles away but don't have gas' story. And heard the bus ticket story quite a bit. But if someone told me they had gotten out of jail on a long stint and the world changed on them while they were inside, and the system doesn't care ...)

I’ve seen people reward “honesty” too, like a beggar asking money for alcohol. I would be more inclined to help an ex convict thrown in the streets than a childrens bus or something

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