Fake monks posing as Buddhist monks detained in Pattaya, Thailand.

Fake Monks Posing as Buddhist Monks Detained in Pattaya PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya municipal authorities detained two men posing as Buddhist monks after discovering violations while collecting donations during a morning alms round on Buakhao Soi 15. City police officers suspected something was amiss when they noticed the two men collecting money from passersby. A subsequent check of their monk identification documents revealed discrepancies, prompting officials to contact the temple the men claimed to belong to. The temple later confirmed that neither of them was a real monk. After the verification, officers escorted the men to Wat Chaimongkol Temple, where the abbot officially performed a ceremony to remove their monastic robes in accordance with Buddhist religious protocol. After the procedure was completed, the men were sent back to their home provinces. Pattaya authorities stated that the operation was carried out to protect residents and visitors from deception and to prevent the use of religious faith for personal gain. The authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity by individuals falsely claiming religious affiliation. For readers: Be careful when donating and report suspicious individuals posing as religious figures.