People often encounter individuals asking for money at Phoenix intersections. Their heart-wrenching messages, often featuring a child's photo claiming death from cancer and seeking funds for a funeral, have raised many questions. Our Arizona's Family Investigates team embarked on a months-long journey to uncover the truth behind these seemingly tragic scenes.
Uncovering the Truth Behind Phoenix's Intersection Solicitations
Section 1: The Phoenix Scene
In Phoenix, we witnessed people asking for money at 32nd St. and Thomas, then moving to 27th Ave. and Camelback. Some claimed not to speak English, but one woman held a sign with a girl's photo, stating the child was her cousin who died two days prior due to cancer. However, a closer look at the sign revealed a slight watermark, and through reverse image search, it was found that the girl's photo was available on stock image sites. This raised doubts about the authenticity of their claims.A viewer in March noticed the questionable signs with similar handwriting and alerted us. Diana, who did not want to show her face for safety reasons, also shared her concerns. She noticed the same people looking like they were in uniform and felt something was not right.Section 2: Similar Incidents Nationwide
Our sister station, WNDU in South Bend, Indiana, also spotted similar signs on street corners. In 2023, a person claimed a teenager died in a car accident, and in 2024, a 9-year-old was said to have died in a car accident. Police in South Bend disputed these claims, stating the accidents were not local. Similar signs have been seen in Ohio, Missouri, and Tennessee as well.In Nashville, Tennessee, when Investigative Reporter Jeremy Finley confronted a group in 2023, a woman did not want to show the sign and claimed it was for her "job." A year later, a similar group showed up and knocked the reporter's phone out of his hand when asked questions.Section 3: Legal Implications
We shared our findings with the Phoenix Police Department. They said the behavior does not violate the city's aggressive panhandling ordinance but could violate another ordinance that bans soliciting contributions from vehicle occupants. However, they did not want to comment on our story.In Rialto, California, where the signs were slightly different, police made arrests on charges of theft under false pretenses. The California police department reminded people to be cautious when approached for money for medical expenses or funerals.It is clear that these intersection solicitations are a complex issue with implications across the country. People need to be vigilant and ask questions before handing over cash to ensure their kindness is not being exploited.READ MORE