Warrants issued for seven people over alleged 'blessing scam' that police say was worth $3 million
NSW Police have issued warrants for seven people who they accuse of "blessing scams".
Police said the alleged scammers would promise to bless a person's wealth, after convincing them their family was cursed, before making off with thousands in cash and jewellery.
The offenders would swap them with fakes and put them in a bag, which they are told not to open for an extended period of time.
Police said more than $3 million been swindled from more than 80 people since July 2023, NSW Police said, from areas including Ryde and Burwood, which have large Chinese communities, as well as Parramatta and Hornsby.
In one example from this January, police said a 47-year-old woman believed her $150,000 in jewellery was being blessed when it was replaced by empty boxes and other worthless items.
In another case, a 77-year-old woman reported being defrauded of "a large sum of money and jewellery" last month in Parramatta.
Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood on Wednesday said the scam preyed on the cultural fears of the victims.
"They have been compromised by people of their own nationality," Assistant Commissioner Wood said.
Assistant Commissioner Wood said those targeted were some of the most "vulnerable" in the community, who in total have made off with $3 million.
"They, I would describe, are very, very vulnerable people," he said.
"The majority are female and elderly. They underpin the word vulnerability.
"And that's what makes this scam, this crime, let's not call it a scam, this crime, so serious.
"They are like piranhas; they are circling around vulnerable people and they are robbing them, at times, of huge amounts of money."
A 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney International Airport on July 3.
A 62-year-old man, who was arrested by the Australian Federal Police at Brisbane Airport the following day, was successfully extradited to NSW yesterday.
They both face three charges, including "participate criminal group contribute criminal activity".
Assistant Commissioner Wood said police believed there may be victims of the scam who have not come forward to police and urged anyone who had been targeted to come forward.
He said the footage police have of the victims allegedly being scammed was "extremely sad".
"There's no rules with these people; they're predators. When they see an opportunity, when they need to work as a group they will work as a group," he said.
Police released photos of those accused of being involved in the operation in the hope people with information on their whereabouts and alleged involvement in the group will come forward.
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