The Boston Police Department has received information from concerned citizens in the Asian community regarding a scam. This scam appears to be targeting elderly victims.
Police have received one report of an elderly victim being approached by Asian females in the Chinatown area and scammed into surrendering valuables to the suspects. Officers would like to take this opportunity to alert community members to be vigilant. Investigators have also received information that similar scams have occurred in other areas of the country including New York City.
Incident Description:
| On Monday, April 16, 2012, officers from District A-1(Downtown) took a report from a victim, who spoke only Cantonese, stating that she was approached by three Asian female while walking in Chinatown. One of the suspects tapped the victim on the shoulder. The victim stated the suspect spoke to her in Cantonese for about five minutes and asked random questions about the victim’s family members. |
| After the conversation with the suspect, the victim returned to her home with a plastic bag which was handed to her by one of the three suspects. The victim retrieved all of her valuables which included jewelry and $160,000.00 in US Currency. The victim placed the valuables in the plastic bag and handed over the plastic bag to the three suspects in the area of the Boston Common near Province Street. The females are described as Asian, between 30-40 years old, between 5’ feet and 5′feet 5 inches, and between 110 pounds to 135 pounds. |