There are a lot of stupid people out there. I remember a Candid Camera tv episode from many decades ago where the skit was about this guy out in NYC with a tin cup collecting money for J. Paul Getty. And, tons of people put money in the cup saying, "That poor man. He used to be rich".
I personally know a lady who's ex-husband had a girlfriend somewhere in a third world country and he sent money to her on a regular basis. They were going steady for a long time but every time they were supposed to meet, something came up and she couldn't come or he couldn't visit her. But, she was always needing money and gift cards. They were a "couple" engaged to be married.
I also knew this guy a long time ago who got divorced and not too long after that it was on the news that his ex-wife got remarried and had murdered her new husband for the insurance money.