Thirteen blessing scams targeting elderly Chinese victims have resulted in losses of more than $300,000 in cash, gold, and jewelry so far in 2026, according to the news release. By this time last year, the Vancouver Police Department had recorded six such incidents totalling about $200,000 in stolen valuables.
Inspector Shiv Gill said the increase in incidents this year compared to last is deeply concerning to the VPD. Gill said the criminals behind these scams use fear to manipulate vulnerable people into handing over large sums of money, calling it cruel and noting it leaves victims and their families facing significant financial issues along with the loss of cherished family heirlooms.
According to the news release, investigators believe the suspects behind these crimes operate internationally, and the department is liaising with other police agencies on these files.
In these cases, criminals approach victims, engage them in conversation, and use deep-seated cultural fear and manipulation to convince them that a terrible misfortune or curse will befall them if they don’t have their valuables spiritually blessed. Victims are typically escorted a few blocks away to meet another suspect, who tells them to go home, gather cash and jewelry, and return for the blessing. The fearful victims comply, handing over their valuables, and the criminals then use deception and sleight of hand to switch the valuables for worthless items such as bags of cornstarch. Victims often don’t realize they’ve been scammed until the scammers are long gone.
According to the news release, suspects in these cases are generally older Asian people, and more than half of the crimes in 2026 have occurred in east and southeast Vancouver. Investigators believe there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward.
The VPD previously shared video of a blessing scam in progress to help identify suspects. Investigators are now sharing additional video and images of suspects wanted in relation to a blessing scam that occurred on June 24, 2026, at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the 2500 block of E. 20th Avenue. The victim in that case, a 78-year-old woman, lost $23,282 and three pieces of jewelry.
Suspect #1 is described as an Asian female, approximately 50 years of age and 160 cm tall, with black hair, wearing a round sun hat, a grey jacket, white shirt, grey pants, a surgical mask, and a back support brace. Suspect #2 is described as an Asian male, approximately 60 years of age and 170 cm tall, wearing a grey baseball hat, a dark-coloured jacket, grey pants, and carrying a black bag. Both suspects remain unidentified.
As the VPD continues to investigate these cases, police are sharing tips to help keep the community safer: one or more strangers may approach and speak the victim’s language, claim their family will face misfortune, and offer protection; they may ask victims to hand over money, jewelry, or valuables to be “blessed.” Police advise against giving strangers anything, urging people to trust their instincts, remember what the suspects look like, and walk away. Anyone approached is asked to tell a family member right away and call 911 to report the incident to police immediately.
