Police Warn of ‘Blessing Scam’ Targeting Elderly Chinese Women

New South Wales police and Scamwatch are warning of a fraud scheme which primarily targets elderly Chinese women, claiming they and their families are at risk from evil spirits before offering to ‘bless’ them in exchange for money or luxury goods.

The so-called ‘blessing scam’ is believed to use younger or middle-aged Asian women who dishonestly use cultural fears and spiritual threats to coerce seniors to part with their valuables. 

One such incident is said to have occurred at about 8.30am on Wednesday 25 September 2024, when a 76-year old woman was approached in Campsie, south-west Sydney by an Asian woman believed to be in her forties and told her daughter would be seriously injured unless she handed-over money and goods in exchange for a blessing.

The woman in her forties along with two other women then accompanied the elderly woman to the latter’s home, where they were given a money and a number of items including jewellery. The younger woman then claimed to have blessed the victim and her family.

In an earlier incident at around 3.20pm on 8 May 2024, a 71-year old woman was approached by an Asian woman in her forties in Cabramatta, which is also in south-west Sydney, who told the elderly woman that her son would be involved in a car accident in three days if she failed to provide cash and jewellery in exchange for a blessing. Two women also joined on this occasion.

Due to the modus operandi and close proximity of the incidents, police suspect they may be related and form part of a much more extensive extortion scam.

But this is not the only emerging scam around – in fact, it’s not even the only one that relies on claims of access to spirituality to gain funds. 

Rather, unscrupulous operators are finding increasingly innovative ways to prey on victims and dishonestly extract funds and valuables. 

Emerging Scams

An example of a widespread scam is the ‘Hi Mum’ scam, which has affected many in Australia and beyond. This scam preys on the kindness and trust of older individuals, with scammers posing as a family member in need of immediate financial assistance. 

A typical scam message will include something like ‘Hi Mum, got a new phone number’ or even ask older individuals about their plans, information, and other personal facts that can lower their guard. Then, the scammer will tell the recipient that they urgently need money due to an unforeseen circumstance, accident, or debt owed to someone else that puts them at risk. 

The widespread nature of this scam is alarming. More than $7 million was lost to more than 11,000 Australians around the country. This trickery gained country-wide notice in 2023 and has continued to wreak havoc on the elderly population ever since. 

Another scam to watch out for is related to the latest tech updates that are changing the ways in which we use the internet, communicate with one another, and use social media platforms. AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is a ‘revolutionary’ technology that can help with vehicles, computer searches, writing, and other online tasks. 

But ‘generative AI’ has the potential to code images, create simulations, and formulate content, all of which can reduce human interactions and make criminality more accessible. By removing the necessity for human tasks regarding cybercrime, fraud, or scams, criminals have a greater chance of remaining anonymous while committing their offences. 

Australia’s eSafety Commission has had to take a greater stance on online crime and cyber issues, as there have been new reports of circulating child abuse material in NSW, creations of sexually explicit images created online, and ‘synthetic’ images that are becoming available to the general public. 

And scams don’t just exist online — people often try to figure out ways to scam people out of thousands of dollars in person by claiming to be someone they are not. ‘Psychic scams’ rose to prominence in Australia in 2022 and have continued to succeed in swindling more than $555,000 from residents in only one year. 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission stated that these types of scams are continually evolving and on the rise, with individuals who claim to be clairvoyants preying on the vulnerable, grieving, or mentally ill people who are looking for answers to complicated problems. 

The Offence of Fraud in New South Wales

Section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) contained the offence of fraud in New South Wales, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that@

• By a deception, the defendant acted dishonestly, and
• These actions created a financial advantage over another person’s property, or caused them to suffer a financial disadvantage, and
• The actions were intentional or reckless.

If the prosecution is unable to prove each of these elements beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant is entitled to an acquittal.

Section 4B of the Act makes clear that whether the conduct amounts to ‘dishonesty is to be determined by the trier of fact – whether the magistrate in the Local Court or the jury or judge sitting alone in a higher court – according to the standards of ordinary people and known by the defendant to be dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people.

Section 192B of the Act defines ‘deception’ as any intentional or reckless deception, by words or other conduct, as to fact or as to law, including:

(a)  a deception as to the intentions of the person using the deception or any other person, or

(b)  conduct by a person that causes a computer, a machine or any electronic device to make a response that the person is not authorised to cause it to make.

Duress is a legal defence to fraud charges.

How to Protect Yourself 

There are a few key ways that individuals and businesses can protect themselves against precious situations that could lead to lost data, information, safety, and money. 

Identifying a Scam

The first step in protecting yourself and your loved ones is to learn how to spot a scam, whether it is online or in person. Criminals typically start by acting as someone they are not, whether posing as a professional individual or acting as a corporation, like a bank, insurance firm, or any other type of authority. 

The criminal will typically ask questions and make generalised statements to build your trust. By making you think that they are in charge and good at their job, they put you at ease and put the criminal in a position of power. 

The scammer will then try to get the receiver to reveal personal information, sensitive data, or key details that they can later use to learn more about you or take advantage of your financial situation. 

One thing to remember when spotting a scam is that professional organisations or governmental organisations will never call or text you without a pre-set time or warning to confirm your details. 

Types of Scams

There are a few main types of scams to watch out for when sharing information and using online websites. 

Phishing

Look for emails or unknown organisations, companies, or individuals that look for your personal information via an email link or document. If you click on the attached document or the link, it will redirect you to a scammer’s website that is designed to look legitimate. From that homepage, you will enter your details, which hackers can use to steal personal information, bank details, or address information. 

Another type of phishing is ‘spear phishing’, a clever play on words that targets a specific group of people directly related to the scammer’s target. For example, you could be contacted by someone impersonating your family member, friend, boss, mentor, insurance agent, or other professional and asking for personal data.

Lastly, the final type of phishing is ‘smishing’, which is exactly the same as above but carries out the scam through text messages to a mobile device. 

Vishing 

Vishing is voice phishing, where the scammer has your phone number, speaks to you, and makes you let down your guard and trust them so that you provide your personal details. Scammers typically disguise their original calling identity by using a different caller ID that makes it seem more familiar to the recipient. 

AI Scams

A newer type of scam that is taking the world by storm is deep fake and AI scams, which utilise simulations of human intelligence to make someone think they are watching a human. In reality, it is a simulation that can cause you to believe you are talking to a real person, such as a loved one or family member, but it is a scammer. 

Resources to Use 

For those who are getting back on their feet after a scamming attempt or event, there are certain resources in NSW and Australia that can help you retrieve any lost data, information, or money.

The National Anti-Scam Centre is an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission organisation that helps Australians identify, prevent, avoid, and report scams to reputable organisations. ScamWatch offers helpful tools for individuals on what to do to prevent scams and the steps to take after understanding you’ve been victimised.

Furthermore, for victims of cybercrime, visiting the Australian Signals Directorate web page provides:

• Information on cyber security incidents for critical infrastructure.
• Alerts on new threats.
• Links where individuals can report a cybercrime or security incident. 

In addition, speaking with a financial counsellor is a helpful way to manage your finances and avoid security breaches in the future. 

Lastly, IDCARE is a useful tool that helps provide support and information to community members concerned their identity may have been stolen or used in fraud. 

IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s cyber support service, which has helped individuals and organisations reduce the aftereffects of harmful cybercrime by supporting case managers, responding to security concerns and scams, conducting independent incident reports, researching the latest scam trends, and developing key insights relating to community vulnerabilities. 

Stay Safe by Staying Educated

The best way to protect against cybercrime, scams, and threats is to be educated. Reading the latest news regarding scams, resources, and governmental aid can help victims rebuild their lives as easily as possible.

Contact Sydney Criminal Lawyers today to find out your legal rights if you have been the unknowing recipient of a scam.