Six Chinese tourists are among seven people charged with begging and possessing suspected proceeds of crime after being arrested with about $1000 cash on city streets this week.

The tourists are thought to be part of a larger operation and pretended to be homeless so they could get money and send it overseas, police said.

"They're not vulnerable people. They've got access to housing and they're just taking advantage and deceiving the good people of Melbourne," Acting Inspector Giovanni Travaglini told reporters on Friday.

The "professional beggars" had been caught with receipts showing money collected had been converted into Chinese currency, he added.

Begging is illegal in Victoria.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp hoped the operation would discourage well-meaning people from giving money to beggars. Instead, she suggested homeless people be directed to service providers.

"We are a caring and generous city, that's why they're coming," she said.

The seventh person arrested was not necessarily linked to the Chinese group, police said.

All seven people charged are not in custody but have been referred to federal police and Australian Border Force.

Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle said all the tourists indicated they wanted to return to China when speaking with its officers.

Australian Associated Press