By CASEY NEILL
THREE women are using the power of prayer to scam money and jewellery in Springvale.
Police want to speak to anyone with information about the mandarin-speaking trio, who’ve also been approaching people on streets in Box Hill.
They convince their victims that they or their children will die if a Chinese doctor does not pray for their valuables.
They arrange a time for the victim to bring in their cash and jewellery in a bag, and one of the women prays over the items while another steals the valuables and replaces them with rice, rock sugar and water.
The con artists tell the victim not to open the bag for at least a month.
Greater Dandenong CIU Detective Sergeant Dean Hedge said police had received several reports about the scam and warned people to be mindful.
He said it appeared they were targeting the Asian community.
“It could be associated with their traditions and their beliefs and they’re targeting their vulnerabilities,” he said.
Det Sgt Hedge encouraged people to ignore the con artists if they approached them, and to discretely take down a description if it didn’t put them in harm’s way.
Call Detective Senior Constable Lara Murray at Greater Dandenong CIU on 9767 7487 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with any information.
