Getting a job is not possible for everyone, not everyone has family or [friends] to help them and sometimes they will make the bad situations even worse them. If you've ever really needed money and were very desperate, than you probably know that people would let you starve to death rather than give you $5.
It's weird how people won't toss out just a few dollars to help someone in need, yet they'll spend $10000 or more on their pet that has an average life span of under 5 years.
But then again, if you give the person in need money, they'll keep coming back for it. It's a real crap shoot
With all due respect, I don't see any relevance of "scam" in your post so try to give it another title.
Anyway, with regards to your question, I believe that our life is survival of the fittest. As a human, you should stand on your own as much as you could because the help that you need must first come from yourself. Let's say for example, I were given a chance to give some help between a young beggar and an old janitor, I will prefer to help the janitor because it only means that he do his very best to change his life compare to a young beggar who has the energy to do work but he don't even try and depends only to the alms.
I believe in a saying (i forgot who said this), "Do not give him a fish, teach him to catch a fish"