Law enforcement in Australia has arrested two suspects linked to dozens of these advanced fee cons known as “Chinese blessing scams.” These Asian hate scams have aimed directly at senior Asian women across the country. The arrests follow extensive investigations into scams that have persisted globally for over 25 years, with incidents reported in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and now Australia.
Authorities arrested the suspected criminals at two international airports. Police allege that cash payments were made by each suspect, including airport pickup and drop off in Sydney and Brisbane. They’re under fire for allegedly duping a 77-year-old woman living in Australia. The crime detail is the theft of 130,000 Australian dollars worth of cash and jewelry, or approximately $85,000. Tack on two more victims that the duo defrauded. They lured no fewer than 30,000 NZD (around $18k) in exchange for being the first active operator in New Zealand.
Chinese blessing scams usually work like this—scammers will persuade victims that a close relative is cursed or facing some sort of danger. They tell the afflicted to sleep with a blessed satchel nearby. This bag needs to stay closed for a long time, often for multiple months. This tactic is meant to create urgency and fear. As a consequence, victims feel they have no choice but to go along with the swindler’s instructions.
Our investigation into these scams has uncovered more than 80 reports across Australia. This complaints reveal an estimated theft of at least 3 million Australian dollars, or over $2 million. This was the same time that law enforcement officials were sounding alarms about the targeting of vulnerable individuals. This problem is most acute among older women in the AAPI community.
Detective Superintendent Guy Magee noted how careful and calculated in the way fraudsters operated was displayed in the campaign.
“It’s like a role play. There’s nothing by chance in what they do; they all have deliberate roles,” – Guy Magee.
Magee decried the method as “a theft by attrition.” He stressed that these perpetrators exploit the deficiencies within their own community. He explained that they tend to “swarm” their targets, describing their actions similarly to “a pack of hyenas.”
Alongside these arrests, police have given warnings to the public about these scams. They tell people not to carry large amounts of cash, or let strangers into their houses. They warn that no one should ever deposit cash or valuables into a satchel of any kind for some alleged blessing ceremony.
“Do not bring strangers home,” – source not explicitly mentioned.
“Do not put money or jewelry in a bag for any blessing ritual,” – source not explicitly mentioned.
As to thieves, he cited the terrible plight of victims who take the bags to be opened, only to find all their cash and jewels gone.
“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,” – Guy Magee.
Those investigations are still active. Law enforcement encourages anyone who is a victim of these scams or witnesses any fraudulent activity to report it immediately. We have been working around the clock with our partners to shield vulnerable members of our community from these predatory practices. We’re doing so by holding offenders accountable to be responsible for their behavior.
“Unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewelry is simply not in there. It’s disgraceful.” – Guy Magee.
As investigations continue, law enforcement urges anyone who may have fallen victim to these scams or witnessed suspicious activity to report it immediately. The ongoing efforts aim to protect vulnerable members of the community from these predatory practices and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions.
