Beware Buddhist monks begging for money

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Begging monks are conmen

Some of you may have come across the incessant pest of men purporting to be Buddhist monks that walk, trot and even run over to the us 'foreigners' offering some small picture / image of Buddha and begging for cash, this is a scam that is becoming more and more popular in the KLCC, Bangsar and Damansara areas. These men are not monks.

Here are some facts you should know about monks:
1. Monks do not beg for money, their bowl is for rice and food
2. Monks don't wear shoes
3. Monks do not come out of the temple after dawn

I can't advise you how to react when you are approached, its up to you. When we are approached, I just put my hand up when I see them coming and say, Don't bother me I'm not interested'

I found an old article relating to monks in Penang (below)

Beware of 'monks' who beg for money at any time of the day – they are conmen out to fleece the public.

Penang Thai Buddhist Temple Chief Monk Reverend Phra Khru Panyasasananurak said local monks are not allowed to beg for money.

“So this means that the 'monks' seen begging for money in coffeeshops or markets are bogus,” he said.

“They can be seen at all times of the day and even in the wee hours of the morning.

“Monks are only allowed to beg for food and not cash. Genuine monks in Penang do not go out to beg for alms as the temples they are attached to see to all their needs.

“We have our own identification in the form of a certificate, which we carry with us at all times.

“Bogus monks are giving us a bad reputation.”

Phra Khru was speaking to reporters yesterday after telling state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Christopher Wan about the bogus monks' tactics to get the unsuspecting public to part with their money.

He added that a while back, the sangha (monks) committee decided that the needs of the monks would be taken care of so that they need not go out to beg for alms.

DCP Wan said the police were investigating whether a syndicate was behind the group of monks and nuns seen around the Chowrasta and Jelutong markets every morning.