San Francisco Police Make Arrests In Chinese Community "Blessing Scam" Incidents 18-176
The San Francisco Police Department is investigating several incidents involving a blessing scam targeting older members of the Chinese community. Such scams usually involve strangers claiming to provide relief from a curse or an illness, or providing “purification” ceremonies in which cash and valuable items must be offered as part of the process.
Between November 29th, 2018 and December 14th, 2018 four blessing scams were reported to the San Francisco Police Department with a loss totaling over $180,000.00 dollars in cash and jewelry. San Francisco Police and San Francisco District Attorney’s Office investigators, with the cooperation of multiple outside law enforcement agencies, identified and arrested two suspects.
On December 24th 2018, 51 year-old Mudi Wu and 45 year-old Fuxi Dai, both of China, were arrested at Los Angeles International Airport where they were attempting to flee to China. The suspects were transported back to San Francisco where they were interviewed and booked on grand theft, petty theft, extortion and elder abuse charges.
The SFPD would like to thank members of the public who provided evidence which helped lead to the arrest of the suspects. The department gratefully acknowledges its collaboration with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Los Angeles Airport Police.
Although arrests have been made, this is an ongoing case. Due to pending identification matters, booking photos are not available at this time. Investigators are asking anyone with information on this case to contact the San Francisco Police anonymously at 415-575-4444 or text-a-tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the start of the message.
The San Francisco Police Department urges members of the Chinese community to be suspicious of such offers from strangers. Potential victims are strongly advised to contact police immediately if confronted with such a situation. Family members and caregivers to elder Chinese community members should discuss this scam with them and instruct the elders to call them if anyone approaches them under similar circumstances.
San Francisco Safety Awareness For Everyone (SFSAFE) - a program of San Francisco Police Department’s Community Engagement Division - provides the City’s diverse communities with safety tips and educational brochures in multiple languages.