Yes, I agree with you where there are far too many get rich quick scheme that goes around the internet until the extend that I don’t know which one can be trust.

Thanx for the tips. I’m not trying to get out of debt, just build a little cushion.

When I put together my web page last May I had never even heard of cyber begging or anything like that. I just thought I would write about my wonderful wife and put together a wish that I truly never thought would happen. Still it was fun to put everything together so that alone made it worth it. So if I fit in the category I am sorry, still I love my wife and family so I felt I needed to do this.

I am so glad that you wrote about Cyber Begging. I am an honest person who needs a little help and when the cbyerbegging site requested $15 all I could think is that the only ones getting money are the ones hosting these websites. So, I searched for begging fraud and found your website and have decided not to post a request for help because of what you have said here. I paid $10 today to keep my utilities from being shut off, $10 that I don’t have because my mortgage payment will now overdraw my account. I was feeling so overwhelmed that I was considering posting a request for money, but deep inside me I kept thinking this is just a scam too. I don’t have alot of debt. I am 37 and obtained my first credit card last year so I would always be able to put gas in my tank. I have a $1300 limit on my card so it never gets too out of control. I’ve always had a car that has been purchased in full & I refinanced my house last year to get rid of my school loans from 1991. My house is the only debt I have. I consider myself responsible in the respect that if I don’t have the cash for something, I really don’t need it that bad. I also feel that I have been responsible by not having a slew of illegitimate children, but if I had, then there are plenty of government organizations that would leap to help me out. My mortgage is only $1100 a month but it eats more than one paycheck. It’s the heat, electricity & trash that I struggle to pay with my remaining $500 for the month while trying to balance out food and personal necessities. I have advertised for a roommate to help with the expenses, however I am also involved in Boston Terrier rescue with an occasional foster dog, and that tends to turn people away. I was feeling so desperate and overwhelmed today and I want to thank you for keeping me from making a mistake while in a frame of mind I probably shouldn’t be making financial decision in anyway. Thank you.

I agree, it is hard to tell if people are being truthful on the internet. I also agree that if you rely on people to bail you out of debt, you can easily slip back into the credit card trap. But there are those who are responsible with their money, yet they still wind up in debt because of circumstances they can’t control.

I created my site when I realized that I could put my entire salary toward my student loans for the next 5 years and still be in debt. I am a hard-worker, I don’t want to be rich (well…I do, but not at the expense of others), and I am responsible with my money. But I’m still in debt. If I tell my story, I’m in debt. And if I don’t tell my story, I’m still in debt. BUT, by telling my story, I can encourage others and add my statement to the never-ending debate about the rising costs of higher education. I also hope that those in school now will see the REAL costs of borrowing and find other alternatives to fund their education where possible.

I have also just submitted my story through here @ digital charity. Please Help.

Sincerely, Jen

I was interested in your article on cyberbegging. Having never heard the word and not knowing the phenomenon existed, I put up a website recently to try to raise money to help pay the vet bills for an injured dog I rescued. I did it independently on a free website from Yahoo. I got a $5 donation from a friend who already knew my plight and a gift certificate for a pet store, which was actually very welcome. It was not a successful fundraising venture; on the other hand, I’ve met other animal lovers, other starving students, animal rescue workers, etc., all of whom had advice and moral support. I was referred to several charities who offer grants to help with emergency vet care. It’s too late for me to qualify for these programs, but I want to add links to my site in hopes of helping other animal lovers who find themselves in similar situations. So it has been worthwhile, even though it has not raised money. And best of all, even though I had to take a loan for the vet bills, I’ve been successful in saving the dog.

Hi
Well I do understand your point and I too never thought of this before, But I am truly desperate and Need help. I am in such bad shape I cant even get a high interest pay day loan

The really sad thing about cyber begging is that it truly does a lot of harm for legitimate fundraisers seeking help with funding.

It especially hits hard those raising funds for wildlife.

It seems that many people think that donating to people about to become homeless is the more important issue.

In this sense I agree with them, in fact our parent organization The First Nations Outreach Project deals with those issues as well.

The folks that FNORP helps don’t have the money to get online. Thye barely have money for food and are almost always known in hte community.
Helping them is indeed one of our top priorities.

Unfortunately, small NGO’s can not afford the advertising needed to bring a large enough traffic flow to their sites to make the difference.

Sites like cybegging sites cause potential donars to lose confidence and trust of everyone.

It is probably not going to get much better in the future either.

With Respect,
Jim Windwalker
Director Wolf Gardens Wildlife Center
http://wolfgardens.org

When people are desperate they will try any means which opens up the possibilities from scammer’s to make a quick buck.

I too am a real person in need of help. I have been looking for help for a long time. I am posted on alot of the “free”cyber begging sites. I am a real person and I have real problems. I also feel that being desperate that there is not very many places to turn. My children and I need that help not the scams. Those sites are not for scams they do happen but in general no supposed to. If you have to pay to beg for money there is a problem. If you have to reveal alot of personal information do not do it. There are real people that will help it is just finding the people that want to help you. I am still looking.

I cannot get any help… All the help i seemed to get is scams. People trying to scam me. I am a mother of six children, I am very much struggling. I have posted in many places. I hope some how someone will help me out.

cyber begging is not the answer. It’s a stop gap at best and it has been done so many times that it is impossible to know who is telling the truth and who is not. Instead of spending so much time trying to get money by begging, you’d be better off figuring out a sustainable budget since it is not likely that you will see any money from cyber begging. That may sound harsh, but the truth is the truth.

I came across this blog and thought I should respond to it. I agree with you, there are a lot of people out there who are willing to scam anyone out of money. I know, I am the victim of a recent scam artist. So, in a desperate cry for help, I resorted to posting an ad on a digital charities. My soul is crushed but I do not have a choice. I am an overseas student who have been living in France for two years after being given a French Government Grant of 800 euros per month. Against all odds (seeing that the average monthly salary in France is around 2500 euros) I managed to live on this staipend. I was attracted to an ad to do processing work from home in an effort to further sustain my studies. And I was scammed out of some money. I am due to complete my studies and to go back to my home country mid-November 2007. The donations that I am after is simply so that I can forward my books, suitcases, printer and such ahead. I for one who has always been careful about money never thought I would be in this situation which required me to resort to ‘begging’ but unfortunately I am.

An act of compassion, if only spare change,is an act of kindness that says, you are not forgotten.

Thanks for your site.

Cyber begging may be a scheme like most things are on the internet, but if u think about it its sorta like the lotto. You may actually be helped if ur in need.Some people really don’t have a support system, health is a good example. What if u or someone in ur family became ill and couldn’t work? The federal goverment will only help little, nothing close to what u have to have to make it in this world. I know. From what I can tell most of the donators aren’t giving their last dollar away, they are mostly well established people making more money than u or I will ever see. When they donate their money they agree that it would be better to help “people” out rather than uncle sam. Yes, charity is a tax right off.

“When they donate their money they agree that it would be better to help “peopleâ€? out rather than uncle sam. Yes, charity is a tax right off.”

This is completely false. Any money you give to people cyberbegging is not tax deductible. For it to be tax deductible, it must be given to a registered charity and then it is only deductible if you itemize your tax return.

I have read these comments and I have to agree that there are legitimate folks out there that are actually in need of a little bit of help. I have read some sincere posts, I would never give a dime to someone who only wants to enhance her looks, however I might consider giving to someone who has fallen on hard times and may acutlaly be at the end of his or limits. Budgets are great but with the rising costs of everything from energy to gasoline to the food you put on your table there may be that suffering lower middle class who are not accustomed to asking for anything. I am lucky I have a job,and have worked since my early teens. I have a debt that Ihave created and will pay. But there are those souls whose husband may have left or they have fallen on temporary hard times. Things happen in this world and we have to be aware of it.

There are times that a person is really genuine. I am one such person seriously interested in putting up personal development programs in Kenya, Nairobi and all I need is 1000$. To trash that dream hurts. Can anyone help?
All the details are on my website.
Naymbura

Ugh. We recently (as in 4 days ago) put up a site asking for donations. We made a simple (and stupid) mistake on our tax return 4 years ago and because of this now owe the IRS $44,000 (which grows daily thanks to compounded interest and penalties). We freely admit our mistake, state that we are decent hardworking people who simply screwed up. I had no idea that there was a whole world of “cyber-begging” out there and hate the idea that we’re getting lumped in with people looking to get cosmetic surgery. Our situation differs in that we have good jobs with decent incomes but we can’t come up with the lump sum the IRS expects us to pay. Where could we market our problem and would people even be willing to help? Your comments and ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!

I noticed that there are two cyber begging sites ask for a set up fee and then a monthly maintenance fee. If many look hard enough they’ll find free sites to legitimately ask for help. It’s a shame that half the posts on cyberbegging sites ask for assanine things like helping a sick pet when keeping a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food in your mouth comes before a pet. Pets are a luxury not a necessity. I would rather ask for help with school expenses and bills than a pet because you can always own a pet, but it’s either you starve and end up on the street.

I lost a really good job 4 years ago after they suddenly didnt need me anymore and I had this job for 8 years. Here I am with debt up to my ears from college and working as a certified nursing assistant which doesnt pay me much and I was working in home health for nearly a month until I wasnt needed anymore.

What a lot of people don’t know is that even with a college degree the job market is extremely tight. So many are forced to take jobs that don’t pay them much and some people are seriously struggling like myself. At least I ask for money honestly instead of posting ridiculous things like helping a sick goat.