MOCK MONKS ON THE MAKE

Posted on 07/10/2016 | About New York City, New York

Tourists in New York City are being warned that monks who approach them asking for donations may be scamming them. Men dressed in orange robes claim to be collecting funds to build a new temple in Thailand and don’t seem to take no for an answer.

Reverend Nakagaki is the president of the Buddhist Council of New York representing over twenty Buddhist temples. He said the number of fake monks targeting tourists in New York City seems to be on the up rise; suggesting, "They are very aggressive and hostile if you don't give them money."
The council has posted warnings on Facebook telling would-be targets that the monks asking for money do not have any affiliation to a Buddhist temple.
In fact when people have asked the robed robbers for details of the new temple they have not been able to provide any, but have shouted demands for ten dollars or twenty dollars.
The Associated Press has reported that the mock monks will not give their names and will run away if pressed for details. They have stated that some of the monks were seen handing wads of cash to another man waiting nearby.
New York had problems with aggressive panhandling by costumed monks two years ago. It is (and was) most prevalent along High Line the linear park in Manhattan.
The High Line has put warning messages on posters in bathrooms and elevators.
Robert Hammond, executive director and co-founder of Friends of the High Line has suggested that the signs have not made the fake monks leave, but have helped to make tourists more aware of the imposters and their aggressive behavior.
This problem occurs in many other cities in the world.