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China publicizes religious sites info against fake monks scam

Xinhua, December 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

China has made information of all registered Buddhist and Taoist sites available online in an attempt to eliminate "fake" monks from begging in the streets.

There are 41,921 buddhist and Taoist sites across the mainland, 33,652 buddhist and 8,269 Taoist.

The State Administration for Religious Affairs also asked all venues to display a standard name plate.

The administration's head Jiang Jianyong said these measures would prohibit some unauthorized venues from organizing events and prevent some "fake" monks and priests from swindling the public.

Quite a number of Chinese believe in Buddhism or Taoism. Some have pretended to be senior monks or nuns of certain temples, and illegally asking for endowments.

Last month, 15 fake monks and nuns were detained by police for various scam. The group, headed by a couple, offered free beads and pendants to people in the street and then forced the recipients to donate money. Endi