(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) A lady exchanged C$90,000 in gold and cash for some noodles and bottled water.
That doesn’t sound like a very good deal, does it?
In fact, she was a victim of a scam.
It seems like everywhere you turn, somebody is trying to steal your wealth. You’ve got the government constantly devaluing your money. You’ve got hackers trying to trick you into clicking nefarious links so they can access your computer. You’ve got AI agents snooping around in bank accounts.
And then there are the scammers.
The thing about scams is that they don’t have to be very sophisticated to work. Scammers prey on fear.
And fear is a powerful motivator.
Two elderly women in Canada let fear get the better of them and lost a significant amount of gold and money.
They’re calling it “the blessing scam.”
In reality, it’s a curse.
Vancouver police say in the first incident, two Asian women approached an 81-year-old lady at a bus stop. As they chatted, the scammers found out the victim had sick sons. A short time later, a male suspect joined the group and told the lady her sons could be healed if her valuables were blessed.
Police say the victim returned home and gathered about C$7,000 in cash, a gold necklace, and a ring. Then she handed them over to the man to bless them. In exchange, he gave her back a bag containing instant noodles and water.
I just have to say – that’s a pretty lame blessing.
When the victim told her daughter about the incident, she called the police.
Investigators did not say whether the woman’s sons received the promised healing. I’m going to go out on a limb and say, no.
A week later, an unidentified Asian woman approached a 79-year-old woman at a different bus stop. Police say a second woman wearing a mask and all-black clothing joined them and told the victim that her youngest son would die if she didn’t bring her gold and money to be blessed by two men to get rid of bad spirits.
The victim took the woman in black to her home and handed over C$50,000 in gold and jewelry, along with about C$40,000 in cash in a backpack.
The thieves returned the backpack after “blessing it.” However, when the victim returned home, she realized the scammers had replaced the gold and money with noodles and water bottles.
Police say they think the two incidents were connected.
So, what have we learned?
If you want a blessing, don’t trust the randos who approach you at the bus stop. Go to a church or religious center and leave the blessings to the pros.
Also, keep an eye on your elderly friends and family members. Talk to them about the dangers out there. If somebody asks you to do something and it seems kind of crazy, trust your instincts.
And most importantly, don’t let fear get the better of you. Slow down. Think things through. Wait before you act. Once the wave of emotion passes, you can make a better decision.
Mike Maharrey is a journalist and market analyst for Money Metals with over a decade of experience in precious metals. He holds a BS in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a BA in journalism from the University of South Florida.
