Every Friday, Lynda Steele dips into the viewer mailbag to answer your questions. This week, Steele on Your Side has received several inquiries about monks who are asking for donations in downtown Vancouver. Many viewers want to know if they are part of a legitimate charity.
The men, dressed in robes, approach people and hand out gold cards and bracelets. They then request a donation. But when asked for further details about where they are from, the monks’ answers are vague.
A quick Google search reveals similar situations around the world and warnings about men posing as monks asking for money.
Vancouver police say if you have any doubts about someone soliciting, don't donate.
“When you're dealing with someone on the street, you really don't know if they have credentials and you really don't know where the money is going to,” said Const. Brian Montague of the Vancouver Police Department, “We suggest if you want to donate to an organization or give money to a charity that you do it directly to that charity,”
We contacted a couple of Buddhist temples in Metro Vancouver. One told CTV News it had no knowledge of these monks and that traditionally, monks take vows that forbid contact with, and the handling of money.
If you have concerns about someone asking for donations on the street, there are a number of warning signs to keep in mind.
For starters, if a collector has no identification or cannot give details about their charity, that may be a clue they're not legitimate.
If the person asks for cash or will not provide a receipt, that could be another warning sign.
