Latest news with #AsianCommunities
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- SBS Australia
'Fly in, fly out criminals' preying on elderly in $3 million 'blessing scams' saga
NSW police have charged two people over their alleged involvement in a 'spiritual blessings scam' predominantly targeting Asian communities and elderly women. NSW Police Detective Superintendent Guy Magee said dozens more people are under investigation and labelled the scammers "FIFO (fly in, fly out) criminals" who come to Australia from China for short stints. "They swarm like a pack of hyenas," Magee said. "It's their own culture they have inside knowledge of ... they capitalise on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition", Magee said. A woman has been charged over allegedly targeting people with a blessings scam in Parramatta, Sydney. Source: Getty / imamember/Getty Images Police allege a 63-year-old woman, who they claim had flown into Australia from China with the intent to scam more people, attempted to defraud a 77-year-old woman of jewellery and money. A man allegedly connected to the scam was arrested at Brisbane airport while attempting to return to China. Over 80 incidents of spiritual blessing scams have been reported to police and an estimated $3 million in cash and valuables has been stolen. More than 50 people are believed to be involved in the scam and 11 arrest warrants have been issued. What are spiritual blessing scams? Spiritual blessing scammers approach victims in public, often working in pairs or groups. They will ask a victim if they know a spiritual healer and escalate the conversation, telling the victim their family are in danger and they will need to seek a spiritual blessing. Often they threaten that the person or their family will be seriously injured if they don't have their wealth blessed. They tell the victim they need to put their cash and jewellery in a bag and have the bag blessed by a spiritual healer. The bag is then returned empty. The reported scams have taken place in multiple areas of Sydney including Ryde, Campsie, Cabramatta, Burwood and Hornsby. Police say people are likely to have under-reported the issue due to embarrassment over being tricked. Earlier this year Victorian police said scammers had stolen $200,000 from elderly victims in the Box Hill area through spiritual blessing scams. 'Isolated, vulnerable' victims Jane Lu is a senior executive officer at Chinese Australian Services Society, an organisation that provides settlement services for Chinese people in Australia. She says the service regularly receives requests to assist people who have been targeted by spiritual blessing scams. "These female victims, most of them are the main carer for their family," she told SBS Chinese. "Most of them are very isolated and face language barriers in Australia. In Chinese culture these women handle the family's savings and they are targeted because scammers know they will have cash saved at home." Lu said they are also targeted because of their spiritual beliefs and desire to protect their families. "[In traditional Chinese culture] we have beliefs that we trust spirits or the ghost exists in another world," she said. "When someone tells you that your son or daughter will be hurt by the spirits, they try their best to protect their kids". Lu said victims are often very embarrassed and feel that shame has been brought on their whole family, and can find it difficult to seek help or speak to police. How to avoid blessing scams Lu said it's important that people are connected to family and community and that younger family members warn elderly members about scams. Police have cautioned people against speaking to strangers who ask them for directions to spiritual healers, to not bring them home or hand over any valuables to a stranger.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Cops swoop at Australian airport in $3M blessing scam
An elderly woman is the latest victim of a 'disgraceful' spiritual blessing scam defrauding dozens of people out of priceless jewels and thousands of dollars. NSW Police arrested a 63-year-old woman at Sydney Airport on Thursday night before taking her to Mascot Police Station. 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.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Cops swoop on $3million 'Chinese blessing' scam targeting vulnerable Aussies in Sydney and Melbourne
An elderly woman is the latest victim of a 'disgraceful' spiritual blessing scam defrauding dozens of people out of priceless jewels and thousands of dollars. NSW Police arrested a 63-year-old woman at Sydney Airport on Thursday night before taking her to Mascot Police Station. 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.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Asian Heritage Month: Celebrating culture and legacy
Winnipeg Watch Sharan Tappia, director, highlights Manitoba's vibrant Asian communities and how you can join the celebration.
