People in the Scottish capital have been contacting Edinburgh Live to share their encounters with the so-called 'fake monks' who are allegedly scamming people out of money in and around Edinburgh city centre - particularly Waverley train station.

We first reported on the issue last week, after a commuter got in touch to say that an grey-clad man gave him a plastic token and a bracelet, then pressured him into paying £10 for the items, which he did not want.

George Jenkins emailed us photographs of the items he was made to buy, saying: "Outside Waverley train station, I was approached by an older man wearing a grey robe, who handed me a plastic token.  He shook my hand and slipped a bracelet onto my wrist."


He went onto explain how the man then tried to get him to 'donate' up to £40 for the items; he gave £10.

Similar scams have been reported as far afield as London and even India, Hong Kong and New York, where they are described as 'aggressively panhandling for donations' in this New York Times article from 2016.

Those who have monitored the panhandling in New York said it "appeared the men were colluding as part of some larger network. The medallions they offer are the same worldwide, they do not appear to compete with each other for turf and have been seen counting their money together."

The plastic token that was handed to Mr Jenkins

Since we published our article hundreds of other local residents have got in touch to share their experiences of the group, who it seems aren't just limiting their range of operation to Princes Street.

One reader named Steve said: "I almost got caught out with this scam yesterday (17 Oct) sitting outside the entrance to the the Camera Obscura at the top of the Royal Mile.

"This 'monk' approached me and thrust a gold coloured token into my hand and then slipped a cheap elasticated beaded bracelet over my wrist before I even knew what was going on.


"He then did the same with my 12 year old stepdaughter and then brought out a pen and a notebook and was about to start saying something when I pulled the bracelet off and gave this and the token back and asked my stepdaughter to do the same. He also tried my partner but she refused straight away (more street sense than me).

"We realised it was a scam and he left us without any argument but it really felt pressured and if I hadn't been up to it I would have paid him a fiver just to go. I can see how this tactic would intimidate many people to pay."

Another reader called Susan said that her son had been targeted, saying: "My son was with his friend and his carer in Edinburgh on Wednesday when they were approached and given a token and beaded bangles by one of these 'monks'

One of the bracelets

"When they refused to give a "donation" the "monk" began banging on my son's wheelchair tray and getting quite aggressive with his demands. My son's carer managed to get my son and his friend away but they were approached again a little while later.

"However, this time just kept walking and the carer told the person to go away. They were quite shaken up by the whole thing."

Police Scotland have confirmed that they are currently investigating the issue, and that enquiries into the 'monks' are ongoing.

They have said: "If you have any information that will assist with our enquiry, please report it to police via 101. Details can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."


