Alms robbery: beware of ‘hostile’ fake monks, Buddhist leaders tell New York tourists

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A man wearing the orange robe of a Buddhist monk talks with a woman in New York's Times Square. The Buddhist Council of New York says such men are “fake monks” who are not affiliated with any known temple and are just looking to make a quick buck. Photo: AP

Published: 1:17pm, 27 Jun 2016

New York City Buddhist leaders are sounding the alarm to tourists: beware of “fake monks.”

Men in orange robes claiming to be Buddhist monks are approaching visitors to some of the city’s most popular attractions, handing them shiny medallions and offering greetings of peace. They then hit them up for donations to help them build a temple in Thailand, and are persistent if their demands are refused.

“The problem seems to be increasing,” said the Reverend T.K. Nakagaki, president of the Buddhist Council of New York, a group that represents nearly two dozen Buddhist temples. “They are very aggressive and hostile if you don’t give them money.”

Pedestrians pass a warning sign about fake monks on The High Line, one of New York City's most visited attractions. Photo: AP

His group has taken to the streets and social media to warn people that the men appear to have no affiliation to any Buddhist temple. “Please be aware,” read one Facebook post, “this is a scam.”

Along the popular High Line elevated park, one of the robed men handed a couple a shiny, gold-coloured medallion and a plastic beaded bracelet. He then showed them photos of a planned temple and barked: “Ten dollars! Twenty dollars!” When they wouldn’t give up cash, he snatched the trinkets back.

Other brightly robed men have been spotted pulling the same routine, albeit more successfully, in Times Square, not far from where costumed characters such as Elmo, Minnie Mouse and the Naked Cowboy take pictures with tourists for tips. Some of the monks were later seen handing wads of cash to another man waiting nearby.

A reporter tried to ask more than a half-dozen of the men about their background and the temple they said the donations were being used to support. Each claimed to be a Buddhist monk collecting money for a temple in Thailand, but none could give its name or say where exactly it is located. All the men refused to give their names and ran off when pressed for answers.