These aren't cities but small towns. Always in areas close to the interstates so I'm sure they're driving out here from the urban DC area. It started a few years ago at gas stations with people claiming to be traveling from somewhere far away, to have lost their money and begging for gas money. Now they're all over the parking lots of shopping centers. The ones inside the stores with little cards claiming they speak no English are I'm sure an organized gang.

Another one "plays" an electric violin with a speaker, but only plays one song over and over. Yeah, that's believable. He usually has a woman and two little kids with him and a sign saying he needs money to feed his kids. There are signs all up and down the highways and storefronts here with stores, factories and warehouses begging people to apply for jobs, some with large signup bonuses. But he can't feed his kids. I guess times are hard for musicians with only one song.