Several years ago, I saw one with a sign that said, "Not gonna lie, I just need money for beer and cigarettes."
I also never give them any Money. Most of them are getting all kinds of other government checks, and panhandling is just spending money.
I was at a gig and the venue was on the 2nd floor, so you could see the street below from the windows. Lost of panhandlers milking around hassling pedestrians. The boys in the band would go out between sets, so I decided to go down with them. Heard a few good stories, but all BS, when a guy came up to me and said “I ain’t gonna bullshit ya, I need some money to buy a Jumbo. I bought that man a beer.