Foreign Tourists in Japan Beware: Fake monks are Chinese crooks!

According to N-sta (Nスタ, TBS TV) on Apr 25, 2016, there are organized fraud groups from China, disguising themselves in monks and ripping off foreign tourists in Japan. 

Source: Nスタ, TBS

They rent monk’s clothing (often grey, orange, etc.) and sell fake goods including cards, praying beads, bracelets, and/or ask for donations, to foreign tourists. N-sta staff pursued two of them to their hidden place, and they said they earned 150,000 yen each in 10 days, and they would "go home soon".

Source: Nスタ, TBS

They approach foreigners on the street with sweet words, or sometimes assertively, grabbing arms and almost snatching money out of tourists’ hands. 

They seem to appear in Tokyo area including Akihabara, Ueno Park, and Asakusa. It's possible that they appear in other places like Kyoto.

Source: Nスタ, TBS

In fact, as I browse through the internet, it seems that they have been doing the same in the US, UK, New Zealand, Hong Kong, etc.

Japanese monks never sell stuff on the street! 

If you come to Japan, beware of fake monks!


Link to N-sta trailer