by The Associated Press
San Francisco police are warning members of the Chinese community about a scam that cost one woman $120,000 in cash and jewelry.
Police say the victim was approached this month by three Cantonese-speaking suspects, one of whom was acting as a doctor. The suspect said the victim was suffering from an illness and was under a curse that would hurt her loved ones. The suspects convinced the older woman to bring her valuables to a nearby street to be blessed in order to break the curse.
They then switched the bag she brought with one containing worthless items using sleight of hand. They told the woman not to look in the bag for some time.
Police say they have received a second report of the same scam this month.