Health Essential Association, a health education organization for Asian Americans, recently held
Health Essential Association, a health education organization for Asian Americans, recently held an information session about a “blessing scam” defrauding elderly Chinese of money, IDs and other valuables in South Brooklyn.
A large number of elderly Chinese attended the April 18 event held at the Happyhouse Adult Day Care Center in Sheepshead Bay. It was organized in partnership with Community Board 15, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, and the 61st Precinct in Sheepshead Bay – home to one of city’s fastest growing Chinese communities.
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes used his personal experience with identity theft to urge the seniors to stay alert and report thefts resulting from the scam to the police.
The “blessing gang,” as it is known in the community, has been committing scams in recent weeks. Many elderly Chinese have lost thousands to tens of thousands dollars to the scammers.
According to police, the gang’s con artists usually target female Chinese senior citizens. They make their victims believe that a tragedy is about to strike her or her family. The scammers ask their victims to put all their valuables (cash and jewelry) in a special bag which a supposed priest will “bless” to avert the impending tragedy. They switch the bag with a similar one filled with old newspapers and water bottles and ask the victims not to open the bag for a week to prevent evil spirits from returning. The scammers then get away with the valuables.
There are many elderly Cantonese residents in Sheepshead Bay. Last year, a Chinese woman from Avenue U lost $70,000 of her assets to the scammers. In recent weeks, residents say that the gang has tried to approach senior citizens in bakeries in the area.
“Do not be superstitious. Do not talk to strangers. If you think you have encountered the blessing scam, you must report it to the police promptly,” police officers advised the seniors at the session.
Hynes also cautioned the senior citizens about identity theft, advising them to be careful with all their personal identification documents. He asked them to contact police immediately if they lose any identification.
Hynes stressed that anyone could fall victim to such crimes, noting that his identity was stolen in France five years ago. He hoped that the public would stay on high alert.
Representatives from the Brooklyn DA’s office advised the public not to store their bank account’s pin number or social security number on their cellphones.
Experts at the information session spoke of immigration scams in new immigrant communities as well, where the undocumented were being made to believe that legal status could be obtained by bribing immigration officials.
Lena Chen, CEO of Health Essential Association and president of Happyhouse Adult Day Care Center, said many elderly Chinese had a trusting mindset, making them easy targets. She hoped the seminar would teach the participants how to prevent such crimes and how best to protect themselves from the scammers.
Translated by Connie Yik Kong from Chinese