Q. Seems like to give zakat is so difficult. The person must be below nisab, legitimately poor…..Will Zakaat be seen as paid if one just looks like a poor person?

A. If a poor person sort your help, made a claim of having zakatable possessions totaling less than the amount of nisab, or a recommendation had been made regarding a person having resources less than the nisab amount, then the zakaat would be viewed as paid in full.

Amongst the criteria is that you took the necessary precaution to establish that the person was indeed worthy of Zakaat.

If you are in doubt as to the eligibility of a person, it would be best that you verify as to the persons eligibility without insulting them. Or you can give sadaqah to them instead of your zakaat.

Allah Certainly Knows Best