A man described as a “fake monk” was apparently busted trying to fleece shoppers in Tai Po Market. It makes a change from Lan Kwai Fong, we suppose.
According to Headline Daily, as translated by EJI, a female accomplice helped the man, posing as a mute Buddhist monk, to peddle a “divine book of Chinese horoscopes”.
The scam apparently entailed the accomplice buying a book for HKD20 and exclaiming what an excellent bargain it was when passersby were in earshot. She is also said to have made a show of getting a free bracelet, and told the crowd that the monk is a spiritual leader in mainland China.
According to the report, the duo, who were making around HKD500 an hour from the scam, moved to three different locations before being apprehended by police.
The woman is said to have disappeared when the officers arrived, while the “monk” produced a certificate from Shenzehn’s Hongfa Temple and a Hong Kong ID card. He was, however, apparently unable to prove he was a monk.
The police did not arrest the man but told him to pack up his wares and leave the area, citing obstruction.
YouTube videos are said to show the “monk” pulling the same scam in Sham Shui Po in September 2014.
A souvenir shop (which naturally makes no profit on anything it sells) apparently told Headline Daily that the booklet and bracelet are worth around HKD3.
Photo: YouTube screenshot
