A 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney Airport over an alleged spiritual scam that exploited elderly Chinese women, convincing them to hand over valuables to be "blessed". This video includes ACM-produced voiceover powered by AI.
00:00A woman has been charged following an investigation into a sophisticated blessing scan
00:05targeting elderly Chinese women across Sydney.
00:09They're best described as FIFO criminals.
00:11They're organised crime that fly in for short periods of time.
00:16They'll prey on the vulnerable in their own community.
00:18They'll capitalise on the vulnerabilities of that community around superstition.
00:23The 63-year-old was arrested at Sydney Airport, accused of exploiting cultural fears to con victims out of money and jewellery in staged spiritual rituals.
00:35It's actually quite heartbreaking when you watch the footage, particularly when you know what is going to occur.
00:40It's almost like, well it is, it's a robbery by stealth.
00:44These offenders swarm these vulnerable victims, usually Asian older females.
00:48Over $3 million has been stolen in over 80 incidents across suburbs including Ryde, Burwood and Parramatta, according to police.
00:58They swarm like a pack of hyenas, to be frank.
01:01They'll convince them that they've come across bad luck.
01:05They will convince them to go and speak to a spiritual healer, to go to their home and retrieve their life savings, all their jewellery.
01:14I'm talking hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time.
01:17They'll convince them to put it into a bag.
01:21They will convince them that it's been blessed.
01:23And they'll tell them not to open that bag for a period of time, up to months.
01:27And if they do, they will come across bad fortune.
01:31And unfortunately, the victims are opening those bags to find their money and jewellery is simply not in there.
01:37Investigations are ongoing, with police urging victims to come forward and be cautious of strangers offering spiritual services.
01:45That means they'll achieve their job and jewellery is because they'll reach your corners on another road.
01:58They will do something depois but do they get them back.
