GEORGE TOWN: If a "Buddhist monk" comes up to you and asks for money or offers a talisman in return for a donation, chances are he is a fake.

According to Mahindarama Buddhist Temple chairman Ghan Chee Tong, a monk's bowl is only meant to receive food.

Warning the public to be wary of bogus monks, he said these impostors "sometimes bring along images of Buddha or talismans to give out, which in general means receiving money in return."

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"(A genuine monk's) bowl is only meant for food and they usually go around in the morning.

"The Theravada monks are supposed to eat solid food once a day, (from) morning until just past noon.

"They are not supposed to take solid food after that. If any are still around the marketplace after noon, there is a high chance of them being bogus monks," he told The Star.

These fakes, who work for begging syndicates, have been spotted around local markets at Chowrasta, Cecil Street, Jelutong, Batu Lanchang and Ayer Itam.

"We are aware of these syndicates and have heard of them operating in various markets.

"I have encountered a few and we (learned) that they are foreigners," he said.

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Ghan urged the public to only offer monks food as a way to deter the fakes from bothering them.

"They give the real monks a bad image," he added.

Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong has taken it upon himself to warn those visiting markets in his constituency by putting up illustrated banners advising people to give any monk who approaches them food instead of money.

Ong said he hoped the banners would raise awareness of the proper kind of alms to give to monks.

He added that the number of fake monks had increased of late.

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"I received complaints that they were being dropped off by car and were seen distributing the money (they collected) in the carpark.

"It is hard to catch them so the best way is to create awareness," he added.

Yeoh Ken Teng, 57, who helps out at a friend's food stall in a market, said he has seen monks taking money.

"They come by around 11am and stay till 2pm or 3pm.

"Last week they were here almost every single day.

"We noticed that they stopped coming around when the banners were put up.

"I have not seen them waste food but they put it in their bags instead of in their bowls," he said, adding that he did not see them forcing people to donate money but usually just stood around waiting.