'Evil spirit' scam plagues Asian Immigrants in US

A group of Chinese in the U.S. fell victim to self-proclaimed spiritual healers’ scam, according to the New York Police. They allegedly preyed on the fear and superstition. “Your son will die in a car accident. He is cursed,” some of them said.

Many Chinese women gave money after the ominous comment. Reasons varied. To ward off evil spirits, or to bring good luck to the family or to heal a sick child.

Money was the ultimate cure-all, they insisted. New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said their know-how to play to their emotional vulnerability was the core of the grafts.

"They know the culture, they know how to talk to these victims to get them to listen," he said. The “healer” then convinced the victim saying that “to ward off impending evil, she must hand over valuables in a bag to be blessed,” according to the police investigation.

Similar scams occurred in other places in the U.S. with large Asian communities, such as Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and in Hawaii. Police there called the scams an organized crime ring.

The district attorney's office, police and politicians waged a public safety awareness campaign, including community meetings and a video depicting a reenactment of a scam and tips on how to spot one, Dr. Alan Hilfer, a director of psychology at Maimonides Medical Center in New York said.

”In many cases they're so lost and desperate in a foreign culture they will turn to anyone who offers them something in a language they can understand. The power of belief is serious."