New York City Buddhist1 leaders are sounding the alarm to tourists: Beware the "fake monks2."
纽约的佛教领袖们向游客发出警告:小心“假僧人”。
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
persistent3 if their demands are refused.
"The problem seems to be increasing," said the
Rev4. TK 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."
His group has taken to the streets and social media to warn people that the men appear to have no
affiliation5 to any Buddhist temple. "Please be aware," read one Facebook post, "this is a scam."