Police want to alert members of the public of some “Apple Scam” cheating cases recently. In the first quarter of 2007, there were five such cases. Recently, a Chinese woman in her mid-60s fell victim and lost about $50,000 in cash to such a scam.

These cases usually involved groups of two or three culprits. In cases where three culprits were involved, the modus operandi typically employed by them is as follows:

1. The first culprit, C1 would approach victim and pretend to be looking for spiritual master or medium who have special healing powers;
   
2. The second culprit, C2 will subsequently approach C1 and victim, and claim to know the person C1 was looking for.
   
3. Following that, C1 and C2 would bring victim to C3, who will claim to be related to the medium. She would convince victim that something bad would befall her family member, and that the victim could avert the misfortune or disaster by performing a ritual/prayer.
   
4. The victim would then be required to place cash and jewellery in a plastic bag for the ritual. After the ritual, C3 would instruct victim to open plastic bag a few days later. Upon checking the plastic bag, the victim would then discover that the cash and jewellery has been swopped with apples, newspapers, rock sugar and other items.

Police would like to alert members of the public to call the Police at “999” if in doubt. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Senior citizens, due to their old age, are vulnerable to crime. It is therefore important that they be aware of the measures to take, to protect themselves against crime. Explain these crime prevention measures to elderly members in your family as they could be victims of tricksters and criminals. Help them to be aware so that they can protect themselves and live their golden years in happiness.