City rocked by $3m ‘blessing scams': cops
The scam generally targets elderly Chinese women and exploits their cultural fears by convincing them their families are at risk, and demanding money to protect them from illness or curses.
'The women are deceived and once the scammers are in possession of their money and valuables including jewellery, the items are swapped with items of no value and the women are encouraged not to open the bags for an extended time,' police said.
In April, police launched Strike Force Sentinel to investigate reports of the scams across the Sydney area, including Ryde, Burwood, Parramatta and Hornsby areas.
To date, they have received more than 80 reports of alleged scams, with more than $3 million in cash and valuables stolen. A 63-year-old woman has been charged over an alleged 'Chinese blessing scams'. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
On Thursday, a 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney International Airport in relation to an alleged 'Chinese blessing scam'.
Police allege the woman was involved with defrauding a 77-year-old woman of a 'large sum of money and jewellery' in Parramatta in June.
She was taken to Mascot Police Station where she was charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception, participate criminal group contribue criminal activity and demand property in company with menaces with intent to steal.
She was refused bail and is set to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Friday.
Anyone who may have been victim of a 'blessing scam' is urged to make a report to police.
Police have urged the public to be hyper vigilant of scammers, and to avoid following people to a doctor or letting strangers inside a home.
'Beware of people you don't know and can't identify seeking access to money and valuables,' they said.
'Beware of people asking for directions to a Chinese herbal doctor or spiritual healer.
'Do not follow people you have just met to a doctor or healer. Do not continue conversation with strangers and leave the location.
'Do not bring strangers home,' they added.
'Do not hand over money, jewellery, or valuable items to stranger, and do not put money or jewellery in a bag for any blessing ritual.' The woman allegedly scammed a 77-year-old. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Don't be stupid, confess to ASIO': Ex-Chinese spy calls out Beijing's Australian espionage efforts, welcomes recent arrest
An ex-Chinese spy has welcomed the arrest of an Australian woman for espionage-related offences as he called out Beijing's intelligence and foreign influence campaigns. On Monday, the Australian Federal Police announced a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested and charged with one count of reckless foreign interference. The woman, who is a permanent Australian resident, allegedly worked to "covertly gather information" about Canberra's Guan Yin Citta Buddhist association on behalf of China's Public Security Bureau. The Chinese Communist Party considers the Buddhist group, which also has members in mainland China, a cult. An ex-Chinese spy has welcomed the arrest of an Australian woman for espionage-related offences as he called out Beijing's intelligence and foreign influence campaigns. Picture: Getty Images In an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia's Cheng Lei, former Chinese spy, Eric, hailed the arrest, saying it was important Australian authorities worked to counter Beijing's efforts to gather intelligence and exert influence at the community level. "What I've noticed in this case is the change to taking action on a spy that's working in a Chinese community organisation, I think it may be the first time," he said. "We know the Chinese government has invested significantly in local community organisations in order to quash dissidents, but also to affect voting and politics. So investing in local communities to counter that is the right thing." Asked whether the woman was acting alone or as part of a larger network of spies, Eric suggested evidence provided by the AFP pointed to the former - although he also warned Beijing had likely established a "large" presence in Australia. On Monday, the Australian Federal Police announced a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested and charged with one count of reckless foreign interference. Picture: Supplied Commenting on the CCP's objectives more broadly, the former spy explained foreign agents had two main aims when conducting operations. "The CCP's spying in Australia takes place in two tracks. One is to quieten criticism against the Chinese government, to ensure its governance security, another is in geopolitics, that may include business, technology, military intel," he said. "China views Australia as important role in geopolitical terms, because we all know if there is military conflict between the US and China in the west pacific, Australia's location is critical. "So the CCP would invest a lot of resources to affect Australian politics and extract military secrets, to ensure Australia would remain neutral, or to defeat the US and Australia's allies." Eric added Chinese spies would work to "foster and develop agents over a long time" in order to avoid detection, including by offering financial incentives to those they believed had valuable information. Asked what any Australian resident being manipulated or approached by China should do, the former spy was unequivocal. "I would say, don't be stupid, first you may be arrested (the) Chinese government would never say 'you're our guys', forget it," he said. "China may start a war in the future, do you want to live in a war country? Don't be stupid, confess to ASIO or police if you are a spy."
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
The Chinese blessing scam which is targeting elderly women
For decades spiritual blessing scams had been haunting Chinese communities around the world including in Australia. Millions has been lost thanks to the con which is complex and incredibly hard to stop. Echo Hui finds out why.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Exchange student, 13, arrested after fatal stabbing of 14-year-old
National A 13-year-old Chinese exchange student has been arrested over the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old girl in the NSW Lake Macquarie Region.
