The latest trend in swindling is apparently ‘virtual begging’. With authorities tightening the loop around begging on the streets, markets and in places of worship, con artists have taken to the web, especially on popular social media platforms, to pedal their sorry stories to gullible folks.

Some of these stories plead for money to meet some urgent exigency, including hospital treatment for them or their loved ones. Despite the fact that there are laws criminalizing cyber-begging just like laws against begging in general, the number of beggars is growing.

According to Professor of Sociology at Kuwait University Prof. Hamad Al-Aslawi, “Those who beg in the virtual world suffer from low religious and moral considerations, as they claim disease, poverty and destitution” in a bid to cheat others.

He called on victims to publish their stories so that others would be alerted of this scam.

For his part, Professor of Psychology at Kuwait University, Khodr Al-Baron said, “Laziness and greed are the most common psychological characteristics of fraudsters begging on various social networking platforms”. He went on to say, “If you give him money to open a project, he will reject, because begging is the fastest way to wealth for him without any hardship or effort.


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