Vancouver police this week called a press conference to display stolen valuables and cash recovered from a group of Chinese scam artists.
The five Chinese nationals were arrested at Vancouver airport by police and Canada Border Services agents as they attempted to fly back to China with about $120-thousand worth of gold and jade, and $138-thousand in cash.
Police say the group was running a “blessing” scam targeting elderly Chinese-Canadian women. The women are convinced to hand over jewels or valuables in a sealed bag or pillow-case to be “blessed” by a spiritualist to ward off bad luck. The valuables are then switched for fairly worthless items and later handed back.
Vancouver police are asking members of the Vancouver and area Chinese community who have taken part is such “blessings” to check unopened bags they have hidden under mattresses, to open them and verify the contents.
They are also asking people to come forward if they’ve been scammed and identify any of the recovered property.
Police also admit that this was just the latest in a series of similar frauds and extortions targeting Canada’s Chinese community, usually targeting elderly Chinese-Canadian women.
The five Chinese nationals were convicted of possession of stolen goods, spent one day in jail, and then were deported back to China.
(with files from CBC)
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