Begging online is becoming big business. All over the internet
professional begging sites are springing up allowing potential
donors to actually choose who they want to give money to after
reading their stories. There are so many stories that it's hard to
tell what ones to believe as each one sounds sadder than the last.
Fact or fiction, it's the internet so people should be careful what
they believe.

Perhaps the most famous of all cyberbeggars is Kyrn who was $20,000
in debt and apparently paid it off in four months after starting a
begging website asking people to give her a dollar. She has been on
talk shows and now has written a book telling her story.

After Kyrn there were many others, some with sad stories about some
misfortune that had happened to themselves, their family or even a
pet. There are a lot of stories that tug at your heartstrings while
others are obviously not true. A lot of the websites have one thing
in common?.they are making money for someone.

Some of the sites that are doing well are ones that are more upbeat.
They tease you or make you laugh so you are happy to give a dollar.
Some are asking for more than a dollar or are just asking for
whatever money you are willing to give them. It's still simply
begging.

When people are begging on the street it can be very awkward or just
plain dangerous to the person who is being asked to give. When
people see a beggar they tend to turn their head and quickly pass
by. They often justify not giving by thinking the person who is down
and out asking for money will just use it for alcohol instead of
coffee. Sometimes the ?beggar? will become more aggressive almost to
the point of scaring people. On the internet begging is different.
You don't see the person so you don't have as strong of an opinion
about them and if you don't like what you read you are just one
click away from leaving the website. Also people on the street don't
stand there and tell you their story but simply ask you for money.
People begging on the internet tell a long, often sad story to try
to get you to give them money.

If you find someone online who you want to help then you should help
them but be careful. A dollar or two is fine but perhaps if you want
to give a large amount you should check out their situation first to
find out if you are actually helping someone who is actually in
need.