What are your thoughts about people on FB asking for help buying presents for their kids, or whomever, for Christmas?

I haven’t seen anyone doing that on my face book.

I subscribe to a buy/sell/trade page. That’s where it’s happening. For some reason some of them show up on my feed. I don’t even know these people.

@chyna – me neither.

But I’m immediately suspicious that they are scammers. If you’re going to be a beggar, don’t be one over the internet. It’s a credibility thing.

Ugh, I would hate that.

To me it’s…well, I would be embarrassed to do such a thing. We had a grocery store that had these papers shaped like a Christmas tree and people would put their kid’s name on them as being a needy kid at Christmas, and the store would stick them to the plate glass window. I was poor as hell, but I never put my kid’s names up there. Every year, however, we did pick a kid to give to. I thought that was an important lesson for my kids.

I’ve never seen that. I would never respond to that. If people can’t afford presents, they can’t afford presents. It seems quite odd to me that if a family has that little money, the thing they would ask for help with is to feed the Christmas consumerism machine. I would far sooner give them money to pay a utility or grocery bill.

This is not to say that people shouldn’t do what they want to do with their own or with gifted money. But it’s disappointing that they don’t realize that Walmart & Co. are taking advantage of them when they’re at their weakest.

I’ve seen people raise money for others, but not for their own kids and not for Christmas presents. That’s a bit beyond the pale for me.

A FB friend did ask for help buying a new guitar for his birthday one year. I am not sure what drove him to ask that, although his wife is a big one on asking for what you want. I ignored it completely.

I haven’t seen it on Facebook and I would find it tacky. If someone is genuinely in need and they’re a good friend, they can ask me to help privately but someone asking me to buy their kids presents on Facebook is a form of begging. I wouldn’t like it.

I’m okay with children’s charities or the like trying to raise funds or provide for children who need assistance, but other than that, no.

I have not seen that happen, but I’m sure it does. I feel like if someone really has a need, they can go to the Salvation Army or local charitable organization in their community. When I worked for Social Services, we got toys donated from many organizations (Toys for Tots, CAP are a few) and we also referred people places. Also, churches and hospitals do toy drives and stuff like that.

I find begging strangers on the internet to be creepy and tacky, and I would be suspicious that it’s a scam.

Not what to buy on Christmas, but I’ve seen people asking similar questions on Facebook (“X celebration is coming. What should I buy now everyone?”, “can you recommend me what to cook for my….... on their stay?”.....) I’m not surprised. Most people I see doing that are the one who have the tendency to post almost all what they think on Facebook. If they don’t bother to post random thought then why should they hesitate to post a question?

But luckily many are wise enough to only make the statuses visible to friends

@Mimishu1995 There’s a big difference between asking people for ideas and asking people for money, which is what @Dutchess_III was describing.

I just noticed someone who did this last week. It was in a for sale, everything under $100 facebook group for the county I live in. A person would have to be desperate to do this. Or they spent all their money on meth and nothing is left for presents. It’s still desperate and sad..

@dappled_leaves Sorry, I misinterpreted the question.

But again, it has something to do with the tendency to post everything on Facebook. They seem to think Facebook can do everything, even that.

@Mimishu1995 True that.

Sounds like a form of phishing to me. How are you supposed to transfer these requested funds?

Honestly, we used to read the requests on the “Angel Tree” at work and marvel at the boldness of people. Asking for stuff we didn’t have. Junior wants the latest gaming system and all Dad really dreams of is a 52” Sony plasma TV with surround sound.

Not that the requests for socks, underwear and something as simple as a Barbie didn’t break your heart.

I’ve seen it once or twice on the buy/sell/trade Facebook page I follow. For one thing, I feel bad that they can’t afford to buy their kids gifts. More specifically, I feel bad for the kids. The thought of a kid without any gifts to open on Christmas is just really sad, and I’m not even a kid person. However, I’m not about to give money to someone I don’t even know because they’re begging on Facebook. How do I know they really can’t afford gifts? They could just be trying to get money from gullible strangers. I’m cynical like that, but people suck, so you can never be sure.

I’d be way too embarassed to post something like that, personally. I’d first try to make some extra cash on my own – selling something, doing side jobs, things like that. Next, I’d try to get a little help from family, friends, church (if I went to church, anyway), etc. If that didn’t work, I still don’t think I’d ask strangers on Facebook. They’re my kids and it’s my responsibility to make sure they have a good Christmas.

Or maybe I’m just a bitch that has never been a single, struggling mother and I should keep my mouth shut.

If I was horribly poor, I can see myself begging for a cuddly toy or book to give to my child. I would have to swallow my pride, but I think I could do it.

Sure, toys are not essential, but I do think it’s healthy for a child to have at least a couple of belongings.

Given that all of the examples by people who’ve seen this are from Facebook groups about selling things for cheap, it is sounding more and more like a phishing scam, as @ibstubro suggests. These people are probably not even in the group’s region.

I had a fellow at work ask me that very same question. I offered to buy presents and take them to work and give them to him. He declined because he wanted cash. Obvious red flags were flying about on that answer. I would buy presents and hand them (or mail) to a needy parent but I won’t give them money.

Well, coincidentally, two days ago my daughter messaged me. She has a friend who had kicked her bf out because he was abusive and he stole $400 from her and therefore she has no money to buy her kids anything for Christmas. She asked if I could help. However, I don’t know that I’ll even be able to get something for all of the 25 people I need to buy for for Christmas. I told her to put an appeal out for her friend on the buy/sell/trade FB page. She did, and the response has been positive. Complete strangers are donating to her friend. So that is nice.

I live in a small, Midwestern town, and even here there are a myriad of options to get help with Christmas. Toys for Tots. The Angel Tree. Corporate collection and donation systems. Hell, two local thrift stores give a free stuffed animal, pair of socks and 2 hats every time anyone visits.

Of course, few of those sources are providing cash. ~