From cash and gold to leaves: 3 women, 1 man charged over suspected involvement in spiritual 'blessing' scams, Singapore News
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release on Friday (June 6) that they had received a report three days prior from a woman who was allegedly cheated by the three others in Chinatown.
"The first woman had initially approached the victim seeking directions to a Chinese physician. A second woman then intervened, claiming knowledge of a suitable physician but explained that consultations could only occur outside the premises due to overcrowding," the release stated.
This second woman wanted the victim to pose as her relative, and the trio went to meet the third woman, who claimed to be a Chinese physician and told the victim she was "experiencing misfortune due to negative spiritual elements".
"The three woman and the victim then arranged to meet at Hong Lim Park and the victim was convinced to surrender $700 in cash and a gold necklace with a Guan Yin pendant to the 'Chinese physician', who then placed the items in a black plastic bag and performed a purported blessing ritual," the release read.
She was instructed to leave the bag unopened for a month underneath her bed, but examined it the next day and discovered her possessions had been replaced by leaves.
A similar incident occurred on June 4, where another victim was approached by two women in Clementi. Upon noticing she had cash in her bag, the women convinced her to place her belongings, amounting to $700, into a black trash bag for safekeeping. However, the victim later discovered that her money had gone missing.
SPF conducted ground investigations and utilised CCTV footage to establish the identities of the three woman and another man believed to be working with them. They were arrested on June 5, and cash amounting to S$1,311 and 10,050 yuan (S$1,800) was seized from them as case exhibits.
The four were charged on Friday for conspiracy to cheat under Section 420 and Section 109 of the Penal Code 1871, with the offence carrying a prison term of up to 10 years and a fine.
"The police would like to remind members of the public to be wary of strangers who claim to provide spiritual help or blessing services. No legitimate religious practitioner will ask for your money or valuables to be surrendered for any blessing ritual," the press release read. "Members of the public should be vigilant and alert their elderly family members about such scams.
"If approached by someone claiming you have bad luck or need spiritual cleansing, do not engage with them and call the police immediately."
Members of the public with information on such scams can call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.
For more information on scams, they can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
[[nid:718792]]
drimac@asiaone.com
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