the fake violin/musician in your shopping center

[gunsmith]

 I tried talking to a few, they told me that they were from Serbia, I think they're Roma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPc30uwXrTw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WNV6gvMUYQ.

 So, anyway-they're raking in big bucks in the Reno/Carson City/Sparks area.  we are really naive here when it comes to buskers
 ( I was planning on busking myself but moved to far away from Reno to try )

People here have never lived in areas plagued by Roma scams, when I lived in Ireland they would constantly bug me despite that them being on the dole meant they had a lot more money than I did as a street guitar player from the states.

They also sell fake jewelry in parking lots , beg with their children.  My African American co-workers are always amazed to see "white people" begging like this because they're obviously well dressed and their kids are right their with them - they do not believe me when I explain their Roma ( they never heard the term before ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2GMyEX-mIA

  warning some curse words in last video
***    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iQYszPWYyM

[Hawkmoon]

My African American co-workers are always amazed to see "white people" begging like this because they're obviously well dressed and their kids are right their with them - they do not believe me when I explain their Roma ( they never heard the term before ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2GMyEX-mIA

Maybe they know the term "gypsy."

[HankB]

Maybe they know the term "gypsy."

Reminds me of a an old cookbook that had the recipe for gypsy chicken soup.

It began with "First, steal a chicken . . . "

[AmbulanceDriver]

We have a guy here locally that's pulling this same scam, but it's an accordion and he's hispanic.   But he's always out there with the whole family, wife and 2 kids, one still young enough to sit in a stroller.  It's obvious if you pay attention for more than 2 seconds he's not actually playing, but most people just drop in a couple bucks and walk on.

[sumpnz]

Reminds me of a an old cookbook that had the recipe for gypsy chicken soup.

It began with "First, steal a chicken . . . "

Reminds of a LawDog story from growing up in Africa.  An outcast group near their home had stolen a chicken.  LawDog’s brother made him return it and steal a better one.

[MillCreek]

In this area, we have a group selling fake gold jewelry in parking lots with a sob story that they need gas to get home. Usually driving large white SUVs, sometimes with Canadian plates.

[BobR]

We had a large gypsy family in Spokane. The Marks family. If one of them was in the ER or admitted we had to put a sitter (watcher) on them. They could strip a room bare in minutes!

bob

[230RN]

Gunsmith, I hope you encouraged them to register to vote.  I mean, what's a Democracy if not everybody votes?