Hello Fellow Travellers,
just an FYI if you're wandering around in this area. This happened 2 weeks ago.
I came out of Holland & Barrett and stood outside the store to put my package away and to check my cell phone messages. Without warning, this "Buddhist monk" was standing in front of me and slipped a wooden bead bracelet on my wrist. (I was really caught off guard when he violated my personal space.) He showed me a small red card with a picture (very old) of an old, crumbling building and asked for a donation to help fix it. There was a tally of "donations" written on one side and they all said 20 or 40 pounds. Quickly realizing that this was a scam, I started feeling around in my bag for some change (he was looking very intensely where I was digging) and managed to come up with a coin. It was 2 pounds (!) but I gave it to him to make him go away. I asked him where the monastery was and what branch of Buddhism, etc., He looked at me with disdain for the pittance but knew I was on to him. Just as he walked away, a nice family of four came up to me and told me he had tried to get money from them too. As we looked in his direction he looked our way giving us the stink eye and shifted off quickly. He looked really pissed off!
Unbelievable. The funny thing is, I'm usually so vigilant about situational awareness but this guy really was bold! (I had to stop at Gails and cheer myself up with a pot of tea and a scone.) When I got back to our rental and told my dh I lost 2 pounds to a "Thai Monk," he just shook his head. I threw the bracelet in the rubbish bin. We visit London a lot so I felt like a big chump.
Several days later, we were walking on Islington High Street and there he was, delivering his spiel to an older lady. I tried to wave at her but then decided not to intervene as I remembered what our guide in Oxford told us about a street beggar we saw on our tour there. He was part of a criminal network and they could be dangerous. Just don't engage at all. Ugh.
I guess there's always a first time for everything. Fortunately, I always have my phone or wallet hidden and tethered to me when traveling. I guess I'll have to keep working on my situational awareness though! Happy and safe travels!