Is giving money to the poor and needy an obligation?

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theCardinalbird

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So an hour ago I get a direct message on Instagram from a guy in Gambia. He says that he and his family are poor and starving. He asks if I could give him money. I’m 16 and I have money, but I don’t know how to give it to him. Also, I don’t even know if I’m allowed to. I don’t have a job, I get a monthly allowance of $20.

My question is what do I do? Would God be angry if I didn’t give this person money?
 
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Joe1 said:
So an hour ago I get a direct message on Instagram from a guy in Gambia. He says that he and his family are poor and starving
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Even if it’s not a scam, you’re under no obligation to give money. Personally, I wouldn’t give him a cent! It’s better that you give money to Catholic Charities and they’ll disperse it properly.
 
Cruciferi said:
Even if it’s not a scam, you’re under no obligation to give money. Personally, I wouldn’t give him a cent! It’s better that you give money to Catholic Charities and they’ll disperse it properly.
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But what do I do about him. He seems like he needs help
 
Lots of people seem like they need our help. Some actually need help; however, at 16 you’re in no position to help someone a world away. Support local causes within your Diocese. The poor will always be with us and there’s legitimate avenues for them to seek assistance. Communicating through Instagram and saying he’s from Gambia sounds like a scam to me. How is he impoverished yet has internet? Sounds fishy…
 
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Apparently he’s using the phone operators phone because he can’t afford the internet. But yet he has an Instagram account with pictures. Should I block this person?
 
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That email is a scam. Everyone gets it every day.

Give to your parish, Catholic Charities, your local food bank.
 
TheLittleLady said:
That email is a scam. Everyone gets it every day.

Give to your parish, Catholic Charities, your local food bank.
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It wasn’t an email it was a message on Instagram. I doubt people get messages in instagram everyday regarding something like this
 
Yes, they do. Those scammers blast messages to everyone who has settings that allow contact.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Yes, they do. Those scammers blast messages to everyone who has settings that allow contact.
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I just really hope it was a scam. I’d hate for this person to be starving and I did nothing to help him. I feel a little guilty
 
I give money away easily. I would never hold this as virtue just my emo chaos. I refuse this world made on material wealth.
Joe1, I don’t know how things are in Gambia but to turn it around for him sounds more than what you have. So be reasonable and move forward.:hugs:
Have a Merry and joyful Christmas! To you and everyone else here in this thread!
 
Joe1 said:
I just really hope it was a scam. I’d hate for this person to be starving and I did nothing to help him. I feel a little guilty
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It really really looks like a scam. And I don’t believe that God will blame you, you’re acting in good faith. Don’t feel guilty. If you’d like to give, find a reputable charity and give them what you would have given him.
 
Joe1, I really do feel you should give to the local Catholic charity and pray for him. The fact is… you don’t know what he will do with thise money.
God bless.
After praying more often I feel more charitable towards the Church and more wary about those who ask especially on the internet. Give thise money to someone you see physically, a beggar on the street and if not the Church.
 
The truly needy don’t reach out to individuals they have never met on Instagram. It’s a scam. Don’t worry about it.
 
Poor and starving people don’t rely on Instagram to get help from people on the other side of the planet. Scammers, however, do use the Internet to prey on people.

You can say a prayer for people you can’t help directly, for whatever reason-- “Dear God, please give him the graces you want to give him the most.” Or something like that.

But you’re currently not in a situation where you can be expected to financially help people directly, let alone random strangers who ask for things on the Internet.

Right now, your job is to be a student. If you have extra time, you can be active in structured organizations that are designed to help people— you can volunteer at a soup kitchen, or a nursing home, or Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or an animal shelter, or whatever fits with your schedule, your mobility, and your preferences. You can be generous with your time and altar serve, or read at Mass, or teach Sunday School, or whatever is appropriate for your skills/status. If you want to financially impact someone directly, you can see if your youth group wants to Sponsor a Child ($360/year) or help sponsor a seminarian or do fundraisers for one-off community projects.

It’s good that you want to be charitable. But at this point, it’s probably best to keep your charity closest to home, by contributing your time and talent to places that would benefit them, and save up your treasure in anticipation of your own future needs.
 
It is surprising that this is the first time you have been baited with one of these scams.

Just peeked in my spam folder, this is just the first 5 of the scam messages waiting for me:
  1. I am writing this mail to you with a great tears and sorrow from my heart my name is Alima Hazem Noman 24yrs old female and i am from Tunisia North African, my mother died long time ago, my father was working in Gold Project Burkina Faso Mining and Construction Company. I was studying in abroad before the death of my father.
  2. Warm greetings to you. I hope this mail meets you in perfect health condition. My name is Mrs Awa Heibi. I know this message might come to you as surprise so do not be afraid Almighty God knows you better and he knows why he has directed me to you at this point in time. I came across your email via an internet search. I am writing this mail to you with heavy sorrow in my heart from hospital here in UK; therefore this email is very urgent. I want you to know that I’m dying here in this hospital right now and i don’t know if i will see some days to come according to my doctor. That is why i chose to reach you through this medium because it still remains the fastest means of communication; though it has been greatly abused. I would have liked to meet you face to face before departing from this mother earth but my ill health won’t permit me but even if I die on the process of this operation I will still praise the ALMIGHTY God.
  3. My name is Mr. Bomga Hamidou. I am working with one of the prime banks here in Burkina Faso. Here in this bank existed a dormant account for many years, which belong to one of our late foreign customer.
  4. Dearest,
I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we haven’t known or come across each other before considering the fact that I sourced your email contact through the Internet in search of trusted person who can assist me.

I am Miss Maria Warlord Ibrahim Coulibaly 24 years old female from the Republic of Ivory Coast,West Africa ,am the Daughter of Late Chief Sgt.Warlord Ibrahim Coulibaly (a.k.a General IB ). My late father was a well known Ivory Coast militia leader . He died on Thursday 28 April 2011 following a fight with the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast(FRCI). I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my step mother.
  1. Hello my dear,
I sent this mail praying it will found you in a good condition of health, since I myself are in a very critical health condition in which I sleep every night without knowing if I may be alive to see the next day. I bring peace and love to you. It is by the grace of God, I had no choice than to do what is lawful and right in the sight of God for eternal life and in the sight of man for witness of God’s mercy and glory upon my life. I am Mrs. Gloria Paul Eric, a widow and citizen of United State’s of America. I am suffering from a long time brain tumor, It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.
 
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