THE Vancouver Police Department is investigating a potential link in two separate “blessing scam” incidents in recent days that targeted seniors at bus stops.
On October 16 at about 1 p.m., an 81-year-old woman was waiting at a bus stop on Victoria Drive near East 37th Avenue, when she was approached by two unknown East Asian females.
They engaged in conversation and the pair were able to ascertain information about the woman’s sons. A short time later, a male suspect joined them and convinced the victim that her sons could be healed if her valuables were blessed.
The victim returned home and gathered about $7,000 in cash, a gold necklace, and a ring, and handed them over to the man. He passed back a bag containing instant noodles and water. The victim went home and spoke to her daughter who called police.
In the second incident, on October 23 at about 10:30 a.m., a 79-year-old woman was approached by an unidentified East Asian woman at a bus stop on Fraser Street at East 47th Avenue.
A second woman wearing a mask and all black clothing joined them and told the victim that her youngest son would die if she didn’t bring her gold and money to be blessed by two men to get rid of bad spirits. The suspect in black accompanied the victim on the bus back to her residence to retrieve her valuables.
The two returned to the area of East 47th Avenue and Fraser where the victim handed over approximately $40,000 in cash and another $50,000 in gold and jewelry to the men.
She then returned home and upon opening her backpack realized the money and valuables had been replaced by noodles and water bottles.
“Vulnerable seniors were targeted in both of these incidents,” said Constable Darren Wong. “We are asking anyone with information, or CCTV or dashcam footage which may have recorded these bus stop interactions, to call the non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.
