• Memebase
  • Animals
  • Cringe
  • Fandom
  • Food
  • Geek
  • Internet Trends
  • Parenting
  • Random Memes
  • Reddit
  • TikTok
  • Twitter Discourse
  • Wholesome

  • Links
  • About Us
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • DMCA Policy
    • search email community favorite this article chev-right latest posts article list comments tags video article login twitter facebook menu pinterest whatsapp

    Tourist pretends to be homeless in Paris for 6 hours, earns $300, food, and coupons: 'At the time, I really did look like a homeless person.'

    Author image for Emmy Pratt
    Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
    Sep 6, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

    Many people claim that homeless individuals are making bank from begging. I find that a little hard to believe, even in areas with heavy foot traffic. A homeless person might make a couple of hundred dollars from sitting outside and begging for the day, but that does not translate into a consistent income that will help them get out of homelessness. Just because you've heard of one homeless person making more money than you do in a day doesn't mean he is making that kind of money consistently. 

    Many people don't give money to the homeless because they are afraid of being scammed. Think about it: any situation where someone is opening begging that you provide them with money makes the "SCAM" alarms in your brain go off. Are the majority of people begging on the streets operating an elaborate scam to take your money when they really don't need it? Probably not, but you have that instinct for a reason. It certainly is possible for someone who isn't really homeless to pull on your heartstrings and convince you they are homeless and need money. 

    Add as a preferred
    source on Google
    Advertisement

    • The dude in this story is, allegedly, one of those people. He looked so disheveled that someone assumed he was homeless. Instead of correcting their mistake, he doubled down and pretended to be homeless for the rest of the day, bringing in 250 euros, which is around $300. He's not a saint, but he did confess his wrongdoings to the internet, which is kind of like a religious confession if you don't think about it too much.

    • Dog on top of persons lap while sitting on group during the daytime
      via Nick Fewings

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Advertisement

    • I pretended to be homeless for 6 hours instead of being a tourist.

      I've achieved one of life's ultimate goals, not giving a sh about anything. Because of this, I don't give a sh what I look like or what other people think of me. So, at the time, I really did look like a homeless person.
      via u/Recent-Screen-1594
    • Advertisement
    • I was visiting an chic district of Paris (I'm French) and, as I walked, I started to get tired of it, so I sat down next to the entrance to a metro station with a little box of sandwiches made with duck pâté and salted butter, a classic from my childhood, which I quickly gobbled up.
      via u/Recent-Screen-1594
    • A person holding a sandwich
      via Karthik Sridasyam

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Advertisement
    • Except that people started putting coins in my box. 1 euro, then 50 centimes, I decided, like a good rat, I'd be here for another half-hour.
      via u/Recent-Screen-1594
    • In the end, I stayed for 6 hours and made 250 euros, not to mention the food and coupons people gave me.
      via u/Recent-Screen-1594
    • Advertisement
    • A person holding a bank note in their hand
      via Drazen Nesic (Unsplash+)

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • Worst of all, another homeless man gave me a quick piece of advice that I remembered for the whole 6 hours: "Empty the box in your bag every now and then, because if there's too much money in it, people will give less."
      via u/Recent-Screen-1594
    • Advertisement
    • So I confess, I pretended to be homeless for 6 hours instead of being a tourist without meaning to, and I discovered that some homeless people must earn a lot more begging than I do.
      via u/Recent-Screen-1594
    • Mother-Pin-3392 I once gave a guy 2 Euros in his empty coffee cup he then looked at me confused and said he was waiting for his wife who was in the shop. I've never felt as awkward ever and
      via u/Mother-Pin-3392
    • jessewalker2 Did you take your money back?
      via u/jessewalker2
    • Advertisement
    • Mother-Pin-3392 Lol I half reached in to take the money back. Felt too awkward about the whole situation. Mumbled something like "Ah ah okay okay", and just backed off and walk away without taking the money out of the cup
      via u/Mother-Pin-3392
    • cailleach_aisteach This reminds me of the video of these guys pulling up next to a guy sitting on the street, and they tell him to 'put the bottle down' or something, and then ask him how long he's been on the streets. He's clearly confused and lets them know that he's waiting for the bus to work, and he's drinking almond milk or something
      via u/cailleach_aisteach
    • DrCash CrLife Hardest working Parisian
      via u/DrCash_CrLife
    • Advertisement
    • orangesfwr He's now on strike until he gets full retirement at 50 and the month of August off.
      via u/orangesfwr
    • No_Being8933 What's amazing is sitting still in one Place for 6 Hours. I don't think I could do even 1!
      via u/No_Being8933
    • Recent-Screen-1594 OP I love free money
      via u/Recent-Screen-1594
    • Advertisement
    • King Kingly Did you give the money to the homeless guy?
      via u/King_Kingly
    • BeardedZorro Didn't you read. For 6 hours HE was homeless.
      via u/BeardedZorro
    • Asian-ethug Something tells me that someone who doesn't give a sh about what other people think of them, and happen to be fine with being dishonest like this, aren't going to give away money that they didn't need to a person actually in need.
      via u/Asian-ethug
    • Advertisement
    • SnooGoats8590 The "real homeless guy" must also earn a lot. He got 250€ after six hours. What do you think the "real homeless guy" earn?
      via u/SnooGoats8590
    • r1pt1n That's hilarious lol in the UK we're warned about people doing that all the time but people will still buy food and drink for the perceived homeless here which is also a win if you're just conning them for free sh. It's a pastime I'll give you that haha
      via u/r1pt1n
    • RPKEE88 I don't care, but I would be interested if this was a docu-series... Film it
      via u/RPKEE88
    • Advertisement
    • IDPotatoFarmer Middle class family. One time my dad (known to not care about his appearance, was wearing a tattered t-shirt) had taken baby me (wearing nothing but underwear) to splash around in the river in the town near the family cabin. A well-intentioned lady approached my dad and tried to give him money to make sure I'd have something to eat...he was mortified
      via u/IDPotatoFarmer
    • aintnothang90 You're a bad person
      via u/aintnothang90

    Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

    Tags

    tourist confessions paris homeless coupons tourists spare change tourism confession change food coupon french Reddit france money vacation
    Like
    Scroll Down For The Next Article
    Show Comments
    Next Article