The 'Chinese Blessing' scam

[Frank Bunn]

Believed to have originated in China in the early 2000s. There were 800 reports of the scam in Hong Kong in 2002, and from there it spread to victimise the Chinese diaspora around the world, but also prevalent in Latin America. Victims are tricked into handing over valuables in a bag for a spiritual blessing, only to later discover they've been swapped with worthless items.

Mei Lin is one of hundreds of victims in Sydney, and thousands around the world who have been targeted by the global con. Mei Lin handed over about $200,000 in cash and jewellery. It's unclear whether the scam involves being drugged by scopolamine or just tricked by superstitious beliefs.

This Sydney woman lost $200K to a notorious street scam. Her family blames a ‘zombie drug’

Dozens of Sydney women have been targeted on the city’s streets in the past two years. The fraudsters may be using a dangerous drug that sends victims into a compliant delirium.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Frank Bunn]

The Soviets and the CIA reportedly used scopolamine as a truth serum during the Cold War, while Joseph Mengeles, the Nazi physician dubbed the Angel of Death, had it imported from Colombia to use in interrogations.

Dementia Black, a drug dealer, told the news website the effects of blowing it into someone’s face are almost instant. “It works in a flash. You wait for a minute for it to kick in and then you know you own that person. You can guide them wherever you want. It’s like they’re a child.”

According to the US state department, unofficial estimates put the number of annual scopolamine incidents in Colombia at approximately 50,000.

Three arrested in Paris over 'devil's breath' drug that turns victims into willing 'zombies'

The three are thought to have stolen millions from unsuspecting victims by blowing scopolamine, a powerful "hypnotic" drug, into strangers' faces

www.telegraph.co.uk