Cops swoop at Australian airport in $3M blessing scam
She is accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of $130,000 in cash and jewellery in Parramatta, in the city's west, in June. Detective Superintendent Guy Magee told a press conference on Friday that police believed over 50 people were involved in the scam in Sydney and Melbourne.
He said the men act as the coordinators, while the women are tasked with convincing victims their wealth needed to be blessed to protect their families from spirits. Supt Magee said the syndicate was 'targeting the entire east coast'.
'The offending could be double what we think,' he told reporters. 'There is an element of shame and humiliation for the victims... please don't be [ashamed] and let us stand alongside you. We're also calling out to the younger generations of these Asian communities to tell their parents and grandparents about this scam. Tell them they shouldn't be talking to strangers or taking them back to their homes. Tell them not to follow anyone to a herbal or spiritual healer.'
Police said it is the latest example of a scam aimed at people of Asian backgrounds, where alleged offenders 'exploit cultural fears'. '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.
A police Strike Force has been in operation since April, investigating alleged blessing scams across Sydney since 2023. Police have received reports of more than 80 incidents in that time and say the scams have netted a cool $3million in cash and valuables.
The 63-year-old woman arrested on Thursday was charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group, and demanding property in company with menaces with intent to steal. She was set to face Parramatta Local Court on Friday after being denied police bail.
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While not a traditional romance scam, she used charm and false identity in personal relationships. It didn't always work out, though. On several occasions, co-workers discovered her true identity and she was forced to leave. Even after marrying Elliot in 2011 and taking his surname, she couldn't fully escape her past. She lasted five years in one role as a digital marketing director, but was let go when clients discovered her criminal history. Today, Kari runs her own production company, and later this year she's launching a podcast called The Worst Thing I've Ever Done, in which guests share their biggest transgressions. There's even talk of a TV series based on her life. 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There were people online saying these horrible things about me, and you would expect that to translate into the real world, but it doesn't.'
