---
title: "VPD warns of two blessing scams that cost seniors nearly $100,000"
description: "Vancouver police are investigating a potential link between two October incidents in which seniors were tricked out of cash and jewellery at bus stops."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/vpd-blessing-scams-seniors-october-28"
last_updated: "2026-10-28T23:58:22.743Z"
---

Vancouver police are investigating a potential link between two October incidents in which seniors at bus stops were tricked into handing over nearly $100,000 in cash and jewellery, according to a Vancouver Police Department press release published October 28.

In the first incident, on October 16 at about 1:00 pm, an 81-year-old woman was waiting at a bus stop on Victoria Drive near East 37th Avenue when two women approached her. A short time later, a man joined the group and told the woman her sons could be healed if her valuables were blessed. The victim returned home, gathered about $7,000 in cash, a gold necklace, and a ring, and handed them over. The man gave her back a bag containing instant noodles and water. Her daughter called police.

In the second incident, on October 23 at about 10:30 am, a 79-year-old woman was at a bus stop on Fraser Street at East 47th Avenue when a woman approached her. A second woman in all-black clothing and a mask joined them and told the victim her youngest son would die if she did not bring her gold and money to be blessed. The suspect in black accompanied the victim home by bus. At the area of East 47th Avenue and Fraser, the victim handed over $40,000 in cash and $50,000 in gold and jewellery. When she opened her backpack at home, the valuables had been replaced by noodles and water bottles.

"Vulnerable seniors were targeted in both of these incidents," said Const. Darren Wong of the Vancouver Police Department. Police say they are investigating whether the two cases are connected.

Vancouver Police are asking anyone with information, or anyone with closed-circuit television or dashcam footage from those bus stop areas, to call the non-emergency line at 604-717-3321. If you or someone you know is approached at a bus stop by strangers claiming a family member is in danger, leave the area and call a trusted person to verify whether an emergency is real, then call police at 604-717-3321 to report it.

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