Footage shared on Reddit has been described as an 'organised syndicate of fake beggars'

Beggars on street corners around Melbourne are allegedly part of a sophisticated syndicate whose members are flown from China to fleece members of the public.

Victoria Police, accompanied by Melbourne City Council staff and Salvation Army workers, confronted beggars on busy intersections around the CBD on Monday and Tuesday.

Seven people were charged with begging-related offences and possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime. An amount of cash was also seized.

News.com.au first reported the scam in June after video emerged online showing a female beggar being spooked by a member of the public filming her.

In the footage, she gestures to the man to leave her alone before taking her belongings and leaving.

Moments later, in an adjacent alley, a second woman sees the camera and immediately picks up her things and walks away.

Ricky Liu, who shared the video on Reddit, told news.com.au the fake beggars had been targeting Melburnians on Elizabeth Street and near Melbourne Central for more than six months.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman told news.com.au the “enhanced community reassurance operation” was conducted to “enforce legislation” relating to people taking advantage “of the good will in our city”.

“While the majority of people begging in Melbourne are vulnerable and in need, there are a small number of professional beggars who target the CBD from time to time,” she said.

The Herald Sun captured images of the beggars breaking down as police confronted them and confiscated their takings. Many were carrying Chinese passports and tourist visas.

Deputy Mayor Arron Wood told the Herald Sun he had never seen anything like it.

“It was unlike anything I’ve seen on Melbourne streets before, particularly the ‘head down on pavement’ right in the middle of intersections,” he said.

“Something just didn’t seem right, and that’s proven to be true with this joint ­operation between the police and council.”

Victoria Police last month said it was important Melburnians felt safe.

“We know this behaviour can result in the public feeling anxious or unsafe, particularly if the person begging is acting aggressively. Victoria Police continually tasks resources to enforce legislation relating to this behaviour and provide community reassurance,” a spokeswoman told news.com.au.

In 2015, a study shared by the ABC found some professional beggars were earning up to $400 a day.

The study, conducted by the Salvation Army, found nine out of 135 beggars interviewed admitted to being professionals.

“We had one person indicate to us that he was raising in the vicinity of $300 to $400 a day or an evening and he was doing that on a regular basis,” Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle said.

“That was about six days a week, and so he saw that as a very profitable way of earning income.”

The Victorian Council of Social Services CEO Emma King told news.com.au that “if (beggars are fake) … then that’s an insult to Melburnians and an affront to those genuinely without a home”.

rohan.smith1@news.com.au | @ro_smith