Elderly women who allowed a group of spiritual healers to pray over their cash and jewels are left STUNNED when their riches vanished with them
- Two Melbourne women allegedly had cash and jewellery stolen by the gang
- The gang posed as spiritual healers before the allegedly making off with the cash
- Crooks instructed victims they could heal them by praying over their riches
- The offenders prayed over the packages and then allegedly swapped them over
A gang of women claiming to be spiritual healers have ripped-off unsuspecting Melburnians who believed they could heal them by praying over their cash and jewels.
The female gang has targetted at least two elderly women in Melbourne’s south.
The victims, both older women from Eastern Europe, were allegedly duped by the gang, which appears to include at least one elderly woman itself.
Detectives have released CCTV images and footage of three women they believe can help solve the investigation.
A woman Victoria Police believe can help solve an investigation into a gang of dodgy faith healers
Faith healers are popular throughout the world. Venezuelans turned to faith healers as the nation’s health care crisis soared in 2017
Victims have told police they had cash and jewellery stolen from a group of women they did not even know.
Both have claimed the group posed as spiritual healers and made bold claims that they could ‘heal’ the vulnerable women.
Detectives have revealed the gang instructed the women the ritual would only work if they packaged up their cash and jewels and handed them over.
The gang further claimed their magical powers would only work if they prayed over the riches at a particular location.
It was then the scammers put their cruel plan into place.
Detectives claim their victims were deliberately distracted while they swapped their victims precious items over.
The gang first struck in Cheltenham – 18kms southeast of Melbourne – on February 14 in the month before COVID-19 lockdown.
They struck again two days later in St Kilda – just outside of Melbourne’s CBD.
A third woman has told investigators she was also approached by a group of women in a similar scenario in South Melbourne on March 11.
An elderly woman police wish to speak to about a series of deceptions in Melbourne
A woman is seen at the clinic of Venezuelan spiritual healer “Guayanese Brother” in Petare neighborhood, Caracas, on September 25, 2019
Another woman police hope to catch-up with over a faith healing scam. Police believe she may be able to help with their inquiries
This time they left empty handed.
Detectives from the Port Phillip Criminal Investigation Unit will hold a press conference on Thursday to appeal for public assistance to catch the scammers.
Anyone who recognises the women are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au