State of Web panhandling

It started a few years ago with SaveKaryn.com (Karyn got help offloading some major credit card debt), but it has gotten more complicated as the ranks of online panhandlers have grown, reports the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel. People are expecting something in return. Sometimes that's innocent entertainment, sometimes advice or commentary. Other times it's not so innocent and pretty risky. See "Porn revolution & teen girls" and "Kids & Webcams." And of course now there are sites "aggregating" panhandlers, as we're seeing in so many subject categories on the Web. Examples from the News-Sentinel: CyberBeg.com, DonateMoney2Me.com, and SaveMeSites.com. Fundraiser wannabes should be wary of the membership fees some of them charge. "Here's a good one," the News-Sentinel says: "At the dubious Millionairehelp.org, you can pay $35 to post your plea for six months - or $99 for a full year. Get the discount while you can."