Use of QR codes by beggars sort of a giveaway

An elderly woman leading another man beg for money on the Beijing subway, May 25, 2014.[Photo/CFP]

It is an open secret that begging is an industry now. Many beggars only accept large notes, and refuse food.

In fact, begging is one of the oldest trades in human society, but it is more controversial today with beggars embracing technology.

Yet these professional beggars are different from real beggars on streets, who for whatever reason are down on their luck and need the support of strangers. These people who genuinely need a helping hand have largely disappeared from cities today, as the government has strived hard to lift people out of poverty and the public assistance system is more developed than it used to be.

The public should have the awareness that a beggar armed with a smartphone and adept in operating his or her account is probably not a person that is really in need. Technology is supposed to make life and work easier, but should never become a means for those who want to thrive without making any contribution to the world. If such beggars can succeed, it is anything but the blessing of modern technology.

If people boycott these professional beggars, the exploitation of compassion will not be able to thrive. But that does not mean the authorities, urban patrol officers and the police should sit idle, they should stop these fraudsters from harassing people.