The Department of Social Welfare says if you are able to assist a person in need please do so however do verify their claims as there are street-smart people out there who know how to get to the hearts of the people and take advantage of the current situation.
While there are genuine cases on the ground, Director Rupeni Fatiaki has also highlighted cases of a man being dropped off every morning to beg on the streets and then picked up every afternoon by his son, people owning properties however still begging on the streets, youths and adults begging to get money for drugs and those people who have relatives who can look after them however they prefer to stay on the streets.
Many people have also started using children to move around with them to ask for money.
People are asked to verify these cases.
He says the genuine people also want to get out of poverty and do not want to sit on the streets all their lives.
The beggars are categorised as professional beggars, mentally challenged cases, social welfare recipients, child beggars, the homeless, and part-time beggars who move around during major events.
