SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The San Francisco Police Division is particularly warning the town’s Chinese language group a few current rip-off. Police mentioned a complete of $374,000 in money and possessions has been stolen from residents in current months from this “blessing” rip-off.
The rip-off includes suspects who communicate Chinese language languages telling victims that they will present aid from a curse or sickness affecting relations, in accordance with an outline by SFPD. They inform victims to place money and valuables right into a bag to be “blessed.” The scammers then change out the property and inform the victims to open the bag at a later date so the “blessing” can take impact.
By the point the victims understand what occurred, they’ve misplaced contact with the suspects.
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SFPD says scams like this have occurred in San Francisco for years. They usually contain criminals coming into the town from out of city round Lunar New Yr and Christmas. Aged victims are sometimes focused.
“Blessing scams are not new and are becoming increasingly brazen,” mentioned San Francisco District Lawyer Brooke Jenkins. “These despicable scams rob harmless victims of their hard-earned cash and likewise take their dignity as properly, as victims usually really feel deep disgrace.”
The scams have been happening since November and have carried into January, SFPD mentioned. At the very least seven instances have been reported:
Nov. 23: 69-year-old lady misplaced $90K of money and property within the Bayview District
Nov. 24: 75-year-old lady misplaced $40K of money and property within the Taraval District
Dec. 12: 79-year-old lady misplaced $70K of money and property within the Bayview District
Dec. 14: 72-year-old lady misplaced $14K of money and property within the Central District
Dec. 16: 69-year-old lady misplaced $91K of money and property within the Central District
Dec. 17: 69-year-old lady misplaced $7K of money and property within the Ingleside District
Jan. 2: 77-year-old lady misplaced $62K of money and property within the Richmond District
SFPD included photographs of assorted suspects (under).
Picture of suspect from the San Francisco Police Division
Picture of suspect from the San Francisco Police Division
Picture of suspect from the San Francisco Police Division
Picture of suspect from the San Francisco Police Division
Picture of suspect from the San Francisco Police Division
SFPD has met with group members to stop these scams from working. Police are warning residents to watch out for strangers.