Vancouver Police say they are investigating whether two blessing scams targeting seniors are connected.
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Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says it is investigating a potential connection between two blessing scams in the city that targeted seniors at bus stops in recent weeks.
The first incident happened on Oct. 16 at about 1 p.m. at a bus stop on Victoria Drive near East 37th Avenue. VPD says an 81-year-old woman was waiting alone when she was approached by two women. The suspects spoke with the woman, learned about her sons, and were later joined by a man. VPD says the three convinced the victim that her sons could be healed if her valuables were blessed.
According to VPD, the victim retrieved about $7,000 in cash, a gold necklace and a ring from her home and gave them to the man for a blessing. VPD says the man returned a bag containing instant noodles and water. After the woman returned home and spoke with her daughter, VPD says the daughter called police.
The second scam occurred on Oct. 23 at about 10:30 a.m. at a bus stop on Fraser Street near East 47th Avenue. VPD says a 79-year-old woman was approached by one woman, and while they talked a second woman—wearing a mask and all black—joined them and told the victim her son would die if she did not get her money and gold blessed.
VPD says the suspect in black accompanied the victim to her home to retrieve the valuables. Afterward, VPD says the victim returned to the bus stop and handed over about $40,000 in cash and another $50,000 in gold and jewellery to two men for a blessing. The victim returned home and found her backpack contained noodles and water bottles instead of her valuables.
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