Queensland man charged over ‘blessing scam’ that swindled elderly Chinese women in Sydney

A 62-year-old Queensland man is facing charges in Sydney over his alleged role in a spiritual “blessing scam” that targeted elderly women of Chinese background, Australian police said Wednesday.

The man is accused of helping defraud a 77-year-old woman in Parramatta last month as part of a scheme in which victims were persuaded to hand over cash and valuables to protect their families from curses. Police say the items were secretly swapped with worthless goods, and victims were told not to open the bags for weeks.

Authorities have linked the scam to more than 80 reported incidents across Sydney, with over A$3 million ($1.96 million) stolen. The man was arrested at Brisbane Airport on July 4 and extradited to New South Wales earlier this week.