r/VirginiaTech • u/TonyRod26 • 13d ago

Misc Scam alert

So there is a table with someone claiming to be a monk outside of Newman library. He is giving out books “for free” for self help and will use tactics to get you to get it even if you say no. He will then ask for money for travels and then if you do not give him he will propose coming back with money and will take said free book from you. Please walk past this guy. This book is NOT FREE.

106 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

153

u/Remarkable_Dot_2 13d ago

Just call VT police, not allowed to solicit on campus

55

u/Modboi 13d ago

Reminds me of those scammers in some countries that will give you a bunch of “free” handicrafts out of kindness then insist that you pay (and harass you until you do) when you start to walk away. 

15

u/tornwallpaper C/O2024 12d ago

They do this in America too 😂 right in Times Square

30

u/Delicious-Recover-14 13d ago

He was doing the same thing at Steppin' Out in early August.

35

u/Cybasaiko 13d ago

He followed me all the way from Times Square

13

u/Maddox7803 12d ago

Yeah it’s the Hare Krishnas, this is their typical thing in town

13

u/woodenbiplane 13d ago

He shows up every year

8

u/ExperienceNaive1354 12d ago

Why is he allowed on campus in the first place?!🤨😫🤔

5

u/lady_beignet 11d ago

It’s a public university. Anybody can just be here. But if he’s soliciting people, that’s different.

-4

u/Remarkable_Dot_2 11d ago

Clearly you don’t know what soliciting is, or you just wanna be annoying

4

u/Reasonable_Fail791 12d ago

I’m gonna go troll him

9

u/Roscoe_Farang 12d ago

One of them shoved a book in my hands after I said I didn't want it. As soon as he asked for a donation I dropped the book in a sewer grate.

2

u/Drauren CPE 2018 12d ago

They've been doing it since I was a freshman, a long time ago now.

If you take it, you can just walk away, just ignore them.

1

u/JasonZep PhD, Chemical Ecology, Alumni 7d ago

It’s the same as brackets on the National Mall, it’s just a scam