Phony ritual swindles Thai-Chinese elderly out of millions of baht

It’s a story of cynical swindlers, superstitious victims, Chinese mysticism and millions of stolen baht.

Today The Bangkok Post reported that local police are “on the lookout” for Mandarin speaking gang members who have been luring elderly Chinese-Thai women into a scam disguised as a good luck ritual.

On August 3, three Chinese nationals— two women and one man, identified as 39 year old Sai Sianghua, 50 year old Liang Faying, and 67 year old Chen Mincheng— were arrested in connection with the con. Police seized 6,825 yuan (37,000 baht) and 13,770 baht cash from the trio, allegedly conned from local Chinese-Thai victims.

The con involves gang members approaching elderly shoppers at local markets, then warning them of looming misfortunate and bad omens, before inviting them to a ritual that promises to vanquish such bad luck.

The victims were told to bring valuables to the ceremony in black garbage bags and hand those belongings to the “master fortuneteller” who would bless them, before handing the bags back, telling the victims to take them home and leave them unopened for 15 days.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/134834/phony-ritual-swindles-thai-chinese-elderly-out-of-millions-of-baht/