From a press release –

Thieves are descending upon Chinatowns across the country, targeting elderly Chinese women as their ‘blessing scam’ victim.

Typically, a thief approaches an elderly Chinese woman and asks if she has seen a spiritual doctor around. More thieves move in, and claim this doctor saved their family member from death. They insist the victim must see this doctor, or else her family will suffer a great tragedy.

On the way to see the doctor, the thieves ask multiple personal questions about family, finances, and general life activities. They state the victim must put all of her valuables in a sack, and pray. Thieves then swap the bag for an identical one, and tell their victim not to open it for several days. When the victim finally opens the sack, the valuables are gone.

Chinese elderly women are prime victims because of their spiritual beliefs.

The New York Times reports that many of them loath going to the police to report a crime. That same distrust extends to banks, so it is widely believed they keep cash at home.

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon said that more than 50 people have reported being scammed in the city over the last year. Their losses topped $1.5 million.

Prevention outreach efforts such as television, bus ads, ethnic media, and even tote bags have proved to be effective at preventing this scam, but there is still a large unaware population. Share this scam with elderly Chinese women in your life to avoid being a victim.

If you have been scammed, contact the Attorney General’s Office to file a complaint at: www.atg.wa.gov/FileAComplaint.aspx.