SAN FRANCISCO – Police in San Francisco announced Friday that they are searching for at three suspects after two elderly women said they were recently victimized in a blessing scam.
On Jan. 29, an elderly woman told officers at the Central Police Station that she was a victim of the fraud. The woman said that she was walking in the Outer Mission neighborhood on Jan. 25 when a male and female suspect approached her.
During their conversation, a second female suspect joined them and began speaking about evil spirits that would harm the victim. Eventually the suspects convinced the woman to gather her valuables to be blessed.
Police said the suspects followed the victim to her home, where she gathered money and jewelry for the blessing.
The victim did not discover the fraud until she spoke with her family the following day. Police said she realized her valuables were switched with similar weighted items.
A second elderly victim came forward to officers at the Ingleside Police Station on Feb. 1. The victim said she was waiting for the bus in the Excelsior District on Jan. 23 when a male suspect approached her.