As @Winningbird says, it’s a similar issue here where I live. We have a lot of scavengers who literally spend their days walking around asking people for money, even though they’re not really homeless. In fact, a lot of them appear quite well off. And it’s always the same lies they tell to try and get some cash from you.
One of them approached me a couple of years ago asking for some money for food. I didn’t have any, but I did have a maccies. Offered him a burger and he declined ?
It’s super important to give to the genuine homeless and people in need, it can just be hard to identify the real cases. I think often donating to your local homeless charities can be the right way to go. Failing that, do what the OP has done and donate food or drink to those genuinely in need.
Great work OP.