Confidence tricksters last year cheated $22 million from more than 300 elderly people in 'blessing' scams - a four-fold increase on the previous year, police said yesterday.
The trend has prompted police to team up with the Social Welfare Department to warn elderly people of the swindlers.
Senior Inspector Yip Ching-han, of the Crime Prevention Bureau, said 100,000 leaflets would be distributed next month to educate elderly people on how to avoid 'blessing gang' deceptions.
The gangs prey on the superstitions of some elderly and vulnerable people who are persuaded to part with cash for bogus goods or rituals. Police say the gangs target victims whom they think lack luck or good health.
Police set up a working group with social service officials in November after reports of people being swindled out of large sums of money increased.
Latest figures show that the number of victims cheated by blessing gangs rose to 311 cases last year, from 75 in 2000, with the amount involved rising from $5.8 million to $22 million.
Although blessing scams show an upward trend, the overall number of street deceptions dropped from 617 cases in 2000 to 606 cases last year.