They are not imaginary. There are millions of them. I've met many of them, and so can you if you ever decide that people from poorer countries are worth your time.
And again, that simply isn't what a strawman is. Read the link. Everything else aside, you are not using that word in the way people use it. It is as if you are insisting French people say "bone apple tea" before they eat, and then you are calling my condescending for letting you know that you misheard it. I understand it can be hard to admit when you were mistaken, but quite frankly, it will end up causing less harm to your ego in the long run if you do.