You see them all the time on the subways: beggars carrying children, singing songs, or disabled and hoping for the generosity of passersby. But who are these people? How do they use the money you give them?

While there are legitimate beggars in China, not all of them are. According to a recent report, professional beggars can earn upwards of RMB 10,000 a month, and in one case, enough to purchase two homes in Beijing.

A Beijing television show called Special Focus worked in tandem with the Beijing Transportation Police to expose one such beggar who isn’t as he appears to be. The show followed the beggar, seen walking into Entrance D of the Liujiayao Metro Station on Line 5 on his own two feet.

His usual habit is to change into dirty, old clothes in the bathroom, then act the part of a crippled man by scooting around on his posterior.

As the filming took place on February 16 in the lull before the Spring Festival, there weren’t many people around, leading the beggar to change clothes on the subway platform. Then, he was filmed begging for money on the subway until he was finally arrested at 10 later that morning.

The beggar was identified as 46 year-old Li, who has carved out his own territory on Line 5 from Liujiayao to Huixin West Station. Li admitted that he can make RMB 300 begging in a round trip, of which he usually makes about three a day, allowing him to purchase two homes in the Beijing area.

Li’s success is in part to having established his own “begging territory” that keeps other beggars away. “Right now, Line 5 belongs to me as well as those (beggars) holding babies,” said Li, “(But) I’ll break the legs of anyone else who comes. That’s why no other beggars want to come here.”

Li was eventually charged by police with causing public disorder, but it’s a small price to pay after having collected enough money to buy property in one of China’s most expensive cities.