A 63-year-old woman has been charged over her alleged role in a spiritual blessing scam that targeted an elderly Chinese woman in Parramatta, as part of a broader criminal operation that has defrauded more than $3 million from Sydney’s Asian community.
The woman was arrested at Sydney International Airport around 7.15pm on Thursday, 3 July 2025, with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police. She was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, participating in a criminal group, and demanding property with menaces.
Police allege the woman defrauded a 77-year-old victim out of a large sum of money and jewellery last month in Parramatta by exploiting cultural fears and deceiving the victim into believing that her family was at risk from evil spirits.
The arrest follows an ongoing investigation under Strike Force Sentinel, launched in April 2025 by the North West Metropolitan Region to crack down on so-called “Chinese blessing scams” that have been reported across Sydney since July 2023.
According to police, these scams typically target elderly Chinese women, preying on traditional beliefs and fears to manipulate them into handing over their life savings and valuables. Victims are approached by individuals who pose as spiritual healers or their associates, claiming that a family curse or spiritual danger requires their wealth to be blessed.
Once the valuables — often including jewellery and large amounts of cash — are collected under the guise of a ritual, they are secretly replaced with worthless items. Victims are then told not to open the bags for an extended period, further delaying the discovery of the scam.
To date, police have received over 80 reports of such incidents across suburbs including Ryde, Burwood, Parramatta and Hornsby. The total value of stolen items is estimated to exceed $3 million.
The woman arrested on Thursday was refused police bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Friday, 4 July 2025.
As investigations continue, police have issued a fresh warning to the public—particularly members of the Asian community—to remain alert and avoid engaging with strangers who may be seeking access to valuables or claiming to be linked to spiritual or herbal doctors.
Authorities advise:
- Do not speak with or follow strangers claiming to offer blessings or spiritual help
- Avoid bringing unknown people to your home
- Never hand over money or jewellery to someone you’ve just met
- Do not place valuables in a bag for any kind of “blessing ritual”
Police are encouraging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a blessing scam to report the incident. All reports will be handled confidentially, and tools such as the Language + app are available to support communication with non-English speaking individuals.
Strike Force Sentinel continues its investigations into the scam syndicate, aiming to bring further perpetrators to justice.
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