>>I wonder how this is different than those who stand on corners panhandling and claim all types of woes that are not true (not to disparage those who really have fallen on hard times but there are panhandler scammers out there). And how will the punishment differ than the high rolling scammers on the news?
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>Around here, we have people who 'own' corners for begging.

Just like in some places every traffic cop's dream is to own an intersection.