Police in Sydney have released photos of 18 Chinese immigrant alleged “blessing scammers” who have warrants out for their arrests.
The release of the images by NSW Police, with assistance from the Australian Border Force, comes after an appeal to locate seven other Chinese nationals in July in relation to blessing scams.
Strike Force Sentinel has investigated 89 incidents since July 2023 that have resulted in $3.14 million in losses, and have charged two people who remain before the courts.
In July Chinese woman Yuee Ruan, 63, was arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with “dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and demand property in company with menaces with intent to steal” after allegedly defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of a large sum of cash and jewellery in Parramatta in June.
Investigators said blessing scammers were targeting people of Asian background, and warned they approach by asking directions to a Chinese herbal doctor or spiritual leader.
“Alleged offenders – generally targeting elderly Chinese women – exploit their cultural fears. As part of the deception, the women are convinced their families are at risk from spirits and need to have their wealth blessed to protect them from curse or illness,” police said.
“The women are deceived and once the scammers are in possession of their money and valuables including jewellery, the items are swapped with items of no value and the women are encouraged not to open the bags for an extended time.”
Victoria Police warned last year that female blessing scammers were targeting elderly victims from their own community in the Chinese immigrant-dominated Melbourne suburb of Box Hill.
Those identified on Wednesday are:
- Baodi Wu, a 60-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, short black hair brown eyes
- Huanyan Chen, a 54-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, long black hair and brown eyes
- Tianjin Gong, a 57-year-old man, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, balding hairline and brown eyes
- Yajin Chen, a 55-year-old man, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, short black hair and brown eyes
- Hongxu Pang, a 63-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, long brown hair and brown eyes
- Xiaomei Jiang, a 47-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, long black hair and brown eyes
- Aiping Li, a 49-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, long brown hair and brown eyes
- Gaier Liang, a 54-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, medium length brown hair and brown eyes
- Zhibin Zheng, a 33-year-old man, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a large build, short black hair and brown eyes
- Jinrong Li, a 47-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a thin build, long black hair and brown eyes
- Jinlian Ren, a 54-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, wavy black hair and brown eyes
- Shaoling Liang, a 68-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, long black hair and brown eyes
- Xianu Yang, a 57-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, wavy brown hair and brown eyes
- Jianchang Ren, a 53-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, long black hair and brown eyes
- Zhiji Liang, a 53-year-old man, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, short black hair, a distinctive white patch of hair on the back of his head and brown eyes
- Cuihua Gao, a 53-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a large build, long black hair and brown eyes
- Fuqiu Chen, a 56-year-old man, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a medium build, short black hair and brown eyes
- Yiping Liang, a 58-year-old woman, is described as being of Asian Appearance, with a small build, long black hair and brown eyes
Header image credit: NSW Police.
The post Hunt for 18 Chinese immigrant alleged scammers on the run in Sydney first appeared on The Noticer.
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