Western Australian Police and Consumer Protection are warning the community about a scam currently running in the state.
Detectives are currently investigating a scam targeting elderly females in the Chinese community.
'Blessing scams', also known as 'ghost' and 'ritual' scams rely on cultural and traditional beliefs with aim to instil fear in victims and assure their compliance.
Authorities said the scam commences when a woman approaches a victim in a public place and states that a family member of the victim’s family is in desperate need of medical assistance, known as 'healers', and they require Eastern Medicine.
Another woman then interrupts the conversation and offers advice to the victim.
This advice leads to the introduction of the victim to a third woman who claims to be a ‘healer’ and that the problem is that the victim has angered the spirits.
The treatment suggested is to have the victim supply jewellery or items of high value to be ‘treated in a ritual’.
During this ritual the group scam the victim by replacing the victim’s valuables with low cost items.
The returned valuables are wrapped and the victim is given instructions not to unwrap it for a long length of time for the ‘cleansing/treatment’ to be effective.
Once the victim unwraps the parcel, they find that their valuables have been stolen.
Reports of this scam have been received interstate and overseas, with an incident reported to West Australia Police.
Pictured are three women who Police said might be able to help with inquiries into a similar scam that occurred in the Perth CBD in March.
Any information regarding the identity of these women or anyone who has any information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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