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The Martin County Sheriff's Office said one family had been asking people for donations, while holding signs and pictures of a girl diagnosed with brain cancer.

Detectives found a Facebook page for a 4-year-old girl with the same name and medical conditions. However, they found that webpage showed Amelia is in Romania.

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"There’s zero chance anybody’s collecting money for that child in Romania and sending that money there," Sheriff William Snyder said.

Detectives began receiving tips about suspicious activity off SE Federal Highway and SE Indian Street.

Last Wednesday, deputies went out to the intersection and interviewed the family.

"They admitted that they were. It was a complete fraud. That they were actually collecting money for their own use and were giving none of it to charity," Snyder said.

The family members were also wearing T-shirts that said, 'Saving the life of Emilia.'

"Admitted to getting about $600 a week, it could be more than that. There’s nothing these people say that really any of us should believe," Snyder said.

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The family told deputies they were from Palm Beach County, but investigators said they don't believe that's true.

"They’re from whatever motel ... as they go from intersection to intersection throughout the state, preying on people who have good intentions and good hearts," the sheriff said.

However, deputies said, the family did not violate any state statutes, so were not arrested.

"We get questions all the time, ‘why isn’t this against the law?’ Snyder said. "And the answer is very simple. There’s no real victim, because you’re voluntarily giving them money and for the state to be able to prove that, there’s really no nexus to truth ... would be nearly impossible."

The family is now banned from soliciting donations on that intersection. Deputies said the family told them they'll stop doing what they were caught doing last Wednesday.

"All they’re going to do is leave the area, find another motel somewhere, hang out, and go right back on a street and do it over and over and over again," Snyder said.

Meanwhile, the sheriff said he's pushing for an ordinance to completely rid the county of panhandling.

"The chances that you’ll find somebody on a street corner, collecting for a legitimate charity is just about zero," Snyder said.

Officials remind the community to be more mindful and extra vigilant when on the roads.

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