Saturday, December 12, 2009

Cyberbegging: Panhandling Online

Cyberbegging Takes Panhandling Online
Pam Fessler (NPR, Morning Edition, Dec. 9, 2009)

Each year, more and more people are going online for their holiday shopping, but in these hard times, the Internet is also becoming a place where people in need can ask for a handout. There are thousands of appeals on craigslist and on other Web sites devoted to begging, such as Begslist, CyberBeg, and DonateMoney2me.com.

And the appeals are heart-wrenching. A single mom with no money to pay her bills; an unemployed construction worker about to lose his house. And, of course, lots of families who can't afford gifts for Christmas. Certainly some of these appeals are scams, but many appear to be legitimate pleas for help. More>>

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