A Winnipeg woman is raising concerns after she said two men dressed in robes approached her for money on a downtown street.
The men appeared to be dressed as monks.
The woman contacted police but at this point it remains unclear who the men are affiliated with and why they’re asking for money.
Signe Hanson was given a bracelet and a gold card from the two men dressed in robes on Thursday afternoon. Both men had shaved heads and approached Hanson and her friend to give them the gifts.
At first, Hanson thought it was a nice gesture then she realized the two men wanted a donation in return.
"They were really aggressive,” said Hanson. “I was having trouble understanding them, I didn't really know what was going on the whole time until they pulled out the card and it mentioned the donations and then I caught on."
Hanson's friend gave the men three dollars, then they asked for more money which the friend didn't give.
Hanson didn't have her purse and didn't give the men anything. She said that seemed to make one of them upset.
"He turned to me and looked at me and realized that I didn't give anything, ripped the bracelet off of my hand, swatted my hand and then pushed it away,” said Hanson.
“Then, they walked away after that."
CTV News caught up with a man who fit Signe's description but he refused to answer any of our questions.
We asked who he was affiliated with and what the money was for but got no answer. The man later changed into street clothes and walked away.
It's not only Hanson and her friend who have had a run-in.
Lorraine Derry has been approached in downtown Winnipeg twice in the past week by a man who was on his own, fitting the same description with the same gold cards.
"I've just said no and walked away so that's the second time that it's happened to me,” said Derry who was also approached on Thursday. “He kind of shows you something and I think he's asked some people and they’ve just said no to him.”
A similar story surfaced in Vancouver in November of 2014 and then again last month when police in that city were once again reminding residents to be cautious when approached by someone claiming to be with a charitable organization.
Hanson said she just wants people in Winnipeg to be aware.
"I was really upset to be perfectly honest,” said Hanson. “It was really scary and unsettling."
Buddhist temples contacted by CTV Vancouver had no knowledge of the men and said traditionally monks take vows that forbid contact with money and handling cash.
CTV News has reached out to Manitoba temples and monasteries to find out if the men are affiliated but as of Thursday evening our calls had not yet been returned.
Hanson phoned the Winnipeg Police Service’s non-emergency line to report the incident.
Officers are looking into Hanson's complaint and may be able to provide more information on Friday.
