Being homeless is no laughing matter. But pretending to be homeless in order to cash in on peoples’ charity… that’s big business. Find the right street corner, in the right city, and you can make a bundle. The startup costs are low: all you need is a piece of cardboard, a marker, a hard-luck story, and no scruples about being a parasite.

When I lived in the Washington DC area, there was one guy who panhandled on a corner near where I lived, who I know was faking it, and several more that I have my suspicions about.

The only problem with it is that, like a job, you have to be there in order to make money at it. Apparently one enterprising fellow is trying a way around that. I wish him luck.

(Via BoingBoing)