Should I help people when there are so many scammers in my town?

Great question. A couple showed up at our Church Sunday morning during Mass. My sister and I were serving as Hospitality Ministers. They told us that they had nowhere to go (Christian Mission was closed until after the Labor Day Holiday) other than to the police department. My sister instructed them to wait for Mass to finish in order for them to talk to our Priest, who actually could do nothing (we are a small congregation) until after the Holiday himself to meet with our Ground Zero/Mission leaders. We invited them for juice and donuts with our church family. Some of the "family" turned their backs in avoidance (thinking it was a scam), while others handed them money....including myself. Within a half hour and with help, I gave them had a bag of pop-top canned goods, water, napkins, forks, spoons, etc., for which they were very grateful. One of our finest couples drove them to a cheap hotel near the Christian Mission and paid for a week's stay. Were they scammers? We may never know, and actually we don't need to. We fulfilled our Christian duties and God was watching. I wouldn't have slept if I had turned my back..... the WHAT IF would have been a guilty feeling. And if they were scammers, at least they saw the good in people. And whether or not they witnessed God that day, deep down inside they KNEW.

In general, you're safer to give your money and time to the homeless shelter, food kitchen etc. They provide more services than individuals can, and do a better job of vetting the people they help. When someone approaches you asking for money for food, give them directions to the shelter/kitchen.