I no longer give to the poor. Years ago, while waiting for the São Tomé and Príncipe consulate in Rome to open, I strolled the streets to kill time. I spotted a guy panhandling on the sidewalk with mangled ankles sitting on a blanket with his dog, they all have dogs, and a hat full of Euros. I only had large notes but I planned to return to this spot after conducting my business at the consulate. Later in the day I saw him again. This time he was walking down the sidewalk with his dog, holding his blanket and hat. Apparently his scam was to pop his ankles out of joint and pretend to be crippled. He preferred to grab a bit sidewalk near St. Peter's Basilica to milk the pilgrims visiting the Vatican. The carabinieri were familiar with his scam and had run him off.