Three scam artists from China, Baodi Wu, Huanyan Chen, and Guoli Liang, were sentenced to prison after conducting a fraudulent scheme in New Zealand that saw them steal more than $100,000 in cash and jewelry over the span of three weeks. The trio, who entered the country on visitor visas, executed a sophisticated “blessing scam” targeting vulnerable members of the Chinese immigrant community in Auckland and Christchurch.
At Auckland District Court, Judge Kirsten Lummis expressed her strong disapproval of the trio’s actions, calling their behavior “despicable” and emphasizing that their offending would have a serious impact on the safety of the community. “Your offending was despicable,” she told them, “and I need to send a very clear message to other Chinese citizens who think New Zealand may be an easy target for such scams.”
The trio arrived in New Zealand on October 10 last year, beginning their crime spree almost immediately. Within just two days, they had targeted their first victim, a 72-year-old woman in Newmarket. Their scam, based on a supposed blessing ritual, involved convincing victims that they were cursed and needed to perform a spiritual cleansing by placing all their valuables into a bag. These items were then stolen by the scammers, who would disappear before the victims realized they had been duped.
Wu, Chen, and Liang’s scam operation was well-rehearsed. They typically targeted elderly women and manipulated them into believing they were under the influence of a curse or bad luck. Once the victim was convinced, they were led through a series of steps that culminated in their valuables being stolen. The criminals had a carefully crafted narrative that made victims feel pressured and fearful of the supposed consequences.
In one instance, Wu and Chen convinced a woman to give up $12,500 in cash, along with several pieces of gold jewelry, under the guise of performing the ritual. Later, when the victim opened the bag, she discovered only cornstarch and a bottle of water. In another case, a victim lost her life savings, amounting to $30,000, believing it would protect her husband’s health.
The scammers made use of their temporary visitor status in New Zealand, knowing they could stay for a short period and leave without drawing much attention. Police were able to trace their activities and arrest them at Auckland International Airport as they attempted to flee the country.
After their arrest, Wu and Chen both admitted their involvement in the crimes. Wu expressed remorse, stating, “I was wrong, I was truly wrong,” while Chen admitted that she felt sorry for the victims and expressed a willingness to return the stolen items. However, their actions were deemed premeditated, and their excuses were not believed by the court. Liang, who participated in several of the scams, declined to speak with police but later acknowledged the financial pressure he was under in China, claiming that he had turned to the scam in desperation.
The court sentenced Wu and Chen to two years and three months in prison, while Liang received a sentence of 19 and a half months. All three will be eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentences. However, given that they entered the country on visitor visas, deportation is likely once their sentences are served.
During sentencing, Judge Lummis criticized the trio’s actions, describing their scam as “cynical and manipulative,” and noted how invasive it was for the victims. The scam involved not just deception, but also long, drawn-out interactions that caused emotional and financial harm. The judge also acknowledged that the victims, including an 82-year-old woman who lost her savings, would struggle to recover from the trauma.
Despite the defendants’ claims that they would return the stolen money, Judge Lummis acknowledged the reality that the victims would likely never see the stolen funds returned. The court declined to order further reparations, recognizing that retrieving the stolen items was a fruitless endeavor.
In a final statement, Judge Lummis read aloud victim impact statements, including one from the elderly Christchurch woman, who described the devastation she felt after realizing her life savings were gone. She expressed deep shame, feeling she had made a “stupid mistake” and was afraid to talk to anyone about the incident.
This case serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of certain groups to scams and highlights the need for vigilance against fraudsters, especially those targeting the elderly. The court’s ruling makes it clear that such deceptive practices will not be tolerated and that those who engage in such crimes will face serious consequences.
