Latest news with #GuyMagee
The Advertiser
17 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Pack of hyenas': $3m blessing scam preys on elderly
A "fly-in, fly-out" criminal syndicate is allegedly behind an orchestrated spiritual blessing scam that has netted millions by preying on elderly women. Two people have already been arrested and dozens more are under investigation for swindling multiple victims. The scammers typically come to Australia from China for short stints to carry out the fraud, convincing older women their money and belongings need to be "blessed" to avoid bad luck, policy say. "These offenders swarm these vulnerable victims, usually Asian older females," NSW Police Detective Superintendent Guy Magee said on Friday. "They swarm like a pack of hyenas." A 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney Airport after arriving from China on Thursday night. She is accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of about $130,000 in cash and jewellery. The woman has been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group and demanding property in company with menaces with intent to steal. A man allegedly involved in the scam was arrested at Brisbane Airport while attempting to return to China. NSW Police will seek extradition on Monday. Police later revealed surveillance footage of an incident from October in the hope of identifying more members of the alleged scam syndicate. In the video, a group of three women approach a 77-year-old lady at Blacktown, in western Sydney, before allegedly convincing her to hand over jewellery worth tens of thousands of dollars. More than 50 individuals are believed to be connected to the sophisticated scam across the east coast of Australia, with 11 arrest warrants issued. It is the latest example of a scam aimed at people of Asian backgrounds, where alleged offenders "capitalise on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition", Det Supt Magee said. "They will convince them to go and speak to a spiritual healer, to go to their home and retrieve their life savings, all their jewellery." The alleged scammers convince victims that items in a bag have been blessed and tell them not to open it, or they will face "bad fortune". "Unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewellery is simply not in there," Det Supt Magee added. Police have received reports of more than 80 incidents across Sydney since 2023. The scams allegedly netted $3 million in cash and valuables. It is alleged that men control the syndicate, with women playing a role in engaging the victims and encouraging them to hand over valuables. There are fears more crimes are going unreported due to shame and embarrassment. "Anecdotally, the offending is probably at least double what we think," Det Supt Magee said. Police have warned people to not hand over money or jewellery for blessing rituals. Others have been urged to keep watch on older family members with limited English and warn them they could be the target of the orchestrated scams. A "fly-in, fly-out" criminal syndicate is allegedly behind an orchestrated spiritual blessing scam that has netted millions by preying on elderly women. Two people have already been arrested and dozens more are under investigation for swindling multiple victims. The scammers typically come to Australia from China for short stints to carry out the fraud, convincing older women their money and belongings need to be "blessed" to avoid bad luck, policy say. "These offenders swarm these vulnerable victims, usually Asian older females," NSW Police Detective Superintendent Guy Magee said on Friday. "They swarm like a pack of hyenas." A 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney Airport after arriving from China on Thursday night. She is accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of about $130,000 in cash and jewellery. The woman has been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group and demanding property in company with menaces with intent to steal. A man allegedly involved in the scam was arrested at Brisbane Airport while attempting to return to China. NSW Police will seek extradition on Monday. Police later revealed surveillance footage of an incident from October in the hope of identifying more members of the alleged scam syndicate. In the video, a group of three women approach a 77-year-old lady at Blacktown, in western Sydney, before allegedly convincing her to hand over jewellery worth tens of thousands of dollars. More than 50 individuals are believed to be connected to the sophisticated scam across the east coast of Australia, with 11 arrest warrants issued. It is the latest example of a scam aimed at people of Asian backgrounds, where alleged offenders "capitalise on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition", Det Supt Magee said. "They will convince them to go and speak to a spiritual healer, to go to their home and retrieve their life savings, all their jewellery." The alleged scammers convince victims that items in a bag have been blessed and tell them not to open it, or they will face "bad fortune". "Unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewellery is simply not in there," Det Supt Magee added. Police have received reports of more than 80 incidents across Sydney since 2023. The scams allegedly netted $3 million in cash and valuables. It is alleged that men control the syndicate, with women playing a role in engaging the victims and encouraging them to hand over valuables. There are fears more crimes are going unreported due to shame and embarrassment. "Anecdotally, the offending is probably at least double what we think," Det Supt Magee said. Police have warned people to not hand over money or jewellery for blessing rituals. Others have been urged to keep watch on older family members with limited English and warn them they could be the target of the orchestrated scams. A "fly-in, fly-out" criminal syndicate is allegedly behind an orchestrated spiritual blessing scam that has netted millions by preying on elderly women. Two people have already been arrested and dozens more are under investigation for swindling multiple victims. The scammers typically come to Australia from China for short stints to carry out the fraud, convincing older women their money and belongings need to be "blessed" to avoid bad luck, policy say. "These offenders swarm these vulnerable victims, usually Asian older females," NSW Police Detective Superintendent Guy Magee said on Friday. "They swarm like a pack of hyenas." A 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney Airport after arriving from China on Thursday night. She is accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of about $130,000 in cash and jewellery. The woman has been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group and demanding property in company with menaces with intent to steal. A man allegedly involved in the scam was arrested at Brisbane Airport while attempting to return to China. NSW Police will seek extradition on Monday. Police later revealed surveillance footage of an incident from October in the hope of identifying more members of the alleged scam syndicate. In the video, a group of three women approach a 77-year-old lady at Blacktown, in western Sydney, before allegedly convincing her to hand over jewellery worth tens of thousands of dollars. More than 50 individuals are believed to be connected to the sophisticated scam across the east coast of Australia, with 11 arrest warrants issued. It is the latest example of a scam aimed at people of Asian backgrounds, where alleged offenders "capitalise on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition", Det Supt Magee said. "They will convince them to go and speak to a spiritual healer, to go to their home and retrieve their life savings, all their jewellery." The alleged scammers convince victims that items in a bag have been blessed and tell them not to open it, or they will face "bad fortune". "Unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewellery is simply not in there," Det Supt Magee added. Police have received reports of more than 80 incidents across Sydney since 2023. The scams allegedly netted $3 million in cash and valuables. It is alleged that men control the syndicate, with women playing a role in engaging the victims and encouraging them to hand over valuables. There are fears more crimes are going unreported due to shame and embarrassment. "Anecdotally, the offending is probably at least double what we think," Det Supt Magee said. Police have warned people to not hand over money or jewellery for blessing rituals. Others have been urged to keep watch on older family members with limited English and warn them they could be the target of the orchestrated scams. A "fly-in, fly-out" criminal syndicate is allegedly behind an orchestrated spiritual blessing scam that has netted millions by preying on elderly women. Two people have already been arrested and dozens more are under investigation for swindling multiple victims. The scammers typically come to Australia from China for short stints to carry out the fraud, convincing older women their money and belongings need to be "blessed" to avoid bad luck, policy say. "These offenders swarm these vulnerable victims, usually Asian older females," NSW Police Detective Superintendent Guy Magee said on Friday. "They swarm like a pack of hyenas." A 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney Airport after arriving from China on Thursday night. She is accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of about $130,000 in cash and jewellery. The woman has been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group and demanding property in company with menaces with intent to steal. A man allegedly involved in the scam was arrested at Brisbane Airport while attempting to return to China. NSW Police will seek extradition on Monday. Police later revealed surveillance footage of an incident from October in the hope of identifying more members of the alleged scam syndicate. In the video, a group of three women approach a 77-year-old lady at Blacktown, in western Sydney, before allegedly convincing her to hand over jewellery worth tens of thousands of dollars. More than 50 individuals are believed to be connected to the sophisticated scam across the east coast of Australia, with 11 arrest warrants issued. It is the latest example of a scam aimed at people of Asian backgrounds, where alleged offenders "capitalise on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition", Det Supt Magee said. "They will convince them to go and speak to a spiritual healer, to go to their home and retrieve their life savings, all their jewellery." The alleged scammers convince victims that items in a bag have been blessed and tell them not to open it, or they will face "bad fortune". "Unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewellery is simply not in there," Det Supt Magee added. Police have received reports of more than 80 incidents across Sydney since 2023. The scams allegedly netted $3 million in cash and valuables. It is alleged that men control the syndicate, with women playing a role in engaging the victims and encouraging them to hand over valuables. There are fears more crimes are going unreported due to shame and embarrassment. "Anecdotally, the offending is probably at least double what we think," Det Supt Magee said. Police have warned people to not hand over money or jewellery for blessing rituals. Others have been urged to keep watch on older family members with limited English and warn them they could be the target of the orchestrated scams.
SBS Australia
19 hours 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.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Two arrested over ‘Chinese blessing scams' targeting elderly Asian women in Australia
Two alleged fraudsters accused of swindling an elderly woman out of tens of thousands of dollars in cash have been arrested by Australian police investigating a spate of 'Chinese blessing scams.' Chinese blessing scams have been reported worldwide for the last 25 years or so, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. Offenders typically target elderly Asian women and convince them that a member of their family is cursed or in danger. Victims are told the only way to ward off negative spirits is to have their wealth blessed. 'It's a robbery by stealth. These offenders swarm these vulnerable victims, usually Asian, older females. They swarm like a pack of hyenas,' said New South Wales Police Detective Superintendent Guy Magee. A 63-year-old woman was detained at Sydney International Airport Thursday after 'extensive inquiries' by Strike Force Sentinel, a special task force formed in April to investigate 80 reports of the scams, involving the alleged theft of 3 million Australian dollars ($2 million). She's been charged with a number of offenses. Her alleged accomplice, a 63-year-old man, was detained Friday at Brisbane Airport as he attempted to leave Australia on a flight to China. He's expected to be charged soon. Detective Superintendent Magee said Friday the alleged perpetrators of Chinese blessing scams are targeting the entire east coast of Australia. 'They'll fly in. They'll prey on the vulnerable in their own community. They'll capitalize on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition,' he said. Typically, the elderly victim is taken to someone purporting to be a spiritual healer, who tells them to put their money and valuables in a bag. 'They will convince them that it's been blessed, and they'll tell them not to open that bag for a period of time, up to months. And if they do, they will come across bad fortune,' said Magee. 'Unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewelry is simply not in there. It's disgraceful.' The two suspects arrested this week are accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman of cash and jewelry worth 130,000 Australian dollars ($85,000) in the western Sydney suburb of Parramatta in June. NSW Police say they believe 50 people are involved in the scam, and they've identified 25 suspects by name. Another 25 people have been seen on camera allegedly taking part. Eleven arrest warrants have been issued. 'It's like a role play. There's nothing by chance in what they do, they all have deliberate roles,' said Magee. He said police believe the crime is 'profoundly underreported' due to the victims' embarrassment and shame about being conned. The number of cases is 'probably double' police estimates, he added. Last November, New Zealand Police arrested three Chinese nationals as they attempted to leave the country on flights to China after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars. Police allege the trio arrived in the country that October and within days started targeting elderly members of the community. The alleged scammers conned two victims out of about 30,000 New Zealand dollars ($18,000) in cash and jewelry, police said in a statement. A 'substantial amount' of money was retrieved, they added. NSW Police issued advice to the community to beware of people asking directions to a Chinese herbal doctor or spiritual healer. 'Do not bring strangers home,' the advice said. Do not hand any valuables to strangers and 'do not put money or jewellery in a bag for any blessing ritual,' it added.
Sky News AU
20 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Police in Sydney issue new warning as Chinese spiritual blessing scam losses increase to $3 million across the city
New South Wales Police have issued a warning to Sydney's Chinese community as a new scam ripples across the city. The spiritual blessing scams, which have targeted Chinese communities in other cities around the world, has seen Sydneysiders lose a combined total of $3 million. Police on Friday shared details about how the scam works, which generally targets elderly Chinese women. "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. The scam works when a person, usually an Australian of Chinese descent, is stopped by a passerby asking for directions to a Chinese herbal or traditional medicine store before claiming their alleged victim or family is possessed by an ancient spirit. Cultural fears are then exploited by convincing the alleged victims their families are at risk, and demanding money to protect them from illness or curses. The alleged scammers then convince the alleged victim to follow them to their home and will swap the contents of their bag to items of lesser value, but tell their victim not to open the bag for a prolonged period. In April, police launched Strike Force Sentinel to investigate reports of the scams across the Greater Sydney area, including Ryde, Burwood, Parramatta and Hornsby. To date, they have received more than 80 reports of alleged scams, with more than $3 million in cash and valuables stolen. At 7.15pm on Thursday, a 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney International Airport in relation to an alleged blessing scam. Police allege the woman was involved with defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of $130,000 in cash, as well as jewellery, in Parramatta in June. She was taken to Mascot Police Station where she was charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group contributing to a criminal activity and demanding property in company with menaces with intent to steal. The woman was refused bail and is set to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Friday. Detective Superintendent Guy Magee said a 63-year-old man was also arrested at 8am on Friday at Brisbane Airport while attempting to travel to China. "NSW Police will seek his extradition on Monday," Det Supt Magee said. Det Supt Magee said the alleged offenders are "best described as FIFO criminals" who fly in and out of Australia to "prey on the vulnerable in their own community". "They're organised crime that fly in for short periods of time, up to 20 occasions over two years," he said. "They'll fly in, they'll prey on the vulnerable in their own community. They'll capitalise on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition. "It's actually quite heartbreaking when you watch the footage, particularly when you know what is going to occur." Police have warned the community "to be alert" to the scams and beware of strangers seeking access to money and valuables. "Beware of people asking for directions to a Chinese herbal doctor or spiritual healer," police said. "Do not follow people you have just met to a doctor or healer. Do not continue conversation with strangers and leave the location."
CNN
21 hours ago
- CNN
Two arrested over ‘Chinese blessing scams' targeting elderly Asian women in Australia
Two alleged fraudsters accused of swindling an elderly woman out of tens of thousands of dollars in cash have been arrested by Australian police investigating a spate of 'Chinese blessing scams.' Chinese blessing scams have been reported worldwide for the last 25 years or so, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. Offenders typically target elderly Asian women and convince them that a member of their family is cursed or in danger. Victims are told the only way to ward off negative spirits is to have their wealth blessed. 'It's a robbery by stealth. These offenders swarm these vulnerable victims, usually Asian, older females. They swarm like a pack of hyenas,' said New South Wales Police Detective Superintendent Guy Magee. A 63-year-old woman was detained at Sydney International Airport Thursday after 'extensive inquiries' by Strike Force Sentinel, a special task force formed in April to investigate 80 reports of the scams, involving the alleged theft of 3 million Australian dollars ($2 million). She's been charged with a number of offenses. Her alleged accomplice, a 63-year-old man, was detained Friday at Brisbane Airport as he attempted to leave Australia on a flight to China. He's expected to be charged soon. Detective Superintendent Magee said Friday the alleged perpetrators of Chinese blessing scams are targeting the entire east coast of Australia. 'They'll fly in. They'll prey on the vulnerable in their own community. They'll capitalize on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition,' he said. Typically, the elderly victim is taken to someone purporting to be a spiritual healer, who tells them to put their money and valuables in a bag. 'They will convince them that it's been blessed, and they'll tell them not to open that bag for a period of time, up to months. And if they do, they will come across bad fortune,' said Magee. 'Unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewelry is simply not in there. It's disgraceful.' The two suspects arrested this week are accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman of cash and jewelry worth 130,000 Australian dollars ($85,000) in the western Sydney suburb of Parramatta in June. NSW Police say they believe 50 people are involved in the scam, and they've identified 25 suspects by name. Another 25 people have been seen on camera allegedly taking part. Eleven arrest warrants have been issued. 'It's like a role play. There's nothing by chance in what they do, they all have deliberate roles,' said Magee. He said police believe the crime is 'profoundly underreported' due to the victims' embarrassment and shame about being conned. The number of cases is 'probably double' police estimates, he added. Last November, New Zealand Police arrested three Chinese nationals as they attempted to leave the country on flights to China after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars. Police allege the trio arrived in the country that October and within days started targeting elderly members of the community. The alleged scammers conned two victims out of about 30,000 New Zealand dollars ($18,000) in cash and jewelry, police said in a statement. A 'substantial amount' of money was retrieved, they added. NSW Police issued advice to the community to beware of people asking directions to a Chinese herbal doctor or spiritual healer. 'Do not bring strangers home,' the advice said. Do not hand any valuables to strangers and 'do not put money or jewellery in a bag for any blessing ritual,' it added.
