One would hope that when you come across someone who appears to be vulnerable asking for donations on the street, they would at least be honest about what you’re helping to fund if you kindly give them your money. Sadly, this is not always the case. Authorities have arrested two individuals in relation to a roadside scam that took place in Palm Springs, California, where a few people were holding up photos of a child and telling passing drivers that the child had died and they were collecting money for funeral costs.
The Palm Springs Police Department shared photos showing at least three individuals who were found walking into an intersection in the Southern California city. They were holding up large photos of a child that they claimed was dead and they needed money to help pay for funeral expenses. Officers looked into the individuals’ story and discovered that the child was actually alive, so their story was not true.
The individuals who were a part of this roadside scam were seen approaching cars and talking with motorists on January 28, 2026, as they tried to solicit money from strangers, per Law & Crime.
Two individuals connected to this incident, who were both from Redlands in Southern California, were arrested and booked on suspicion of “obtaining money under false pretenses” and “conspiracy to commit a crime,” per KTLA-5.
The Palm Springs Police Department sent out a warning on its Facebook page that stated how “these kinds of scams happen across the country, and we know many in our community here have encountered similar situations.” They went on to warn that if you “see someone stepping into the roadway or standing on medians to solicit cash, especially while using emotional stories or photos, please don’t give money.”
PSPD also described this type of behavior as “unsafe” and “fraudulent,” so if you happen to encounter something similar, it’s important to make note and call your local authorities to properly check things out.
One may also find that these types of operations “are often organized” and the “images the scammers use are stolen from real charities,” so it’s no wonder that empathetic individuals want to believe they’re real and give their money to these types of tragic stories, per Law & Crime.
It’s very sad that you have to be so wary to make these kinds of connections — even in person rather than online — because you can never be sure about a person’s true intentions.
