A woman has been charged in connection with an alleged “spiritual blessings” scam that police say deliberately targeted Sydney’s Asian community, defrauding victims of more than $3 million in cash and valuables.
NSW Police have been investigating the alleged crime syndicate since April and believe it has been operating across Sydney since at least July 2023.
Investigators say offenders fly into Australia from China specifically to target the Australian-Chinese community. Detective Superintendent Guy Magee described the group as “highly organised” and likened the scammers to “FIFO criminals.”
“They fly in for a short period of time and prey on the community,” Magee said. “It’s actually quite heartbreaking when you watch the footage—these offenders swarm like a pack of hyenas, to be frank.”
The scam allegedly targets elderly Chinese women by exploiting cultural fears, convincing them that their families are threatened by spirits or curses and that their valuables must be blessed for protection. Victims are deceived into taking the group to their homes and handing over bags of cash and jewellery.
Once the scammers have the victims’ valuables, they allegedly replace them with worthless items.
“They convince them that [their wealth] has been blessed and tell them not to open the bag, warning that if they do, it will bring bad fortune,” Magee said. “Unfortunately, when they do open the bags, they find their money and jewellery are gone.”
Police believe victims are chosen randomly in public. So far, they have received reports from more than 80 victims in areas including Ryde, Burwood, Parramatta, and Hornsby.
As part of the investigation, a 63-year-old woman was arrested at Sydney International Airport at 7:15pm yesterday with assistance from the Australian Federal Police. Police allege she returned to Australia intending to commit further scams.
The woman is accused of defrauding a 77-year-old woman out of $130,000 in cash and jewellery in Parramatta last month. She has been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group, and other stealing offences. She was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court today.
Another 63-year-old man was arrested at Brisbane Airport this morning as he attempted to board a flight to China. Police also revealed that a syndicate member is in custody in New Zealand.
Magee said police believe the scam has affected the entire East Coast of Australia and suspect the true number of victims is at least double what is currently known.
“I have no doubt this is under-reported,” he said. “I really do call on those victims who feel embarrassed or shamed—please don’t be. Come forward. Let us stand alongside you.”
Magee urged younger members of Asian communities to talk to elderly family members about the scam, warning, “They should never take a stranger back to their house under any circumstances.”
