Prayer and Blessing Scams: How Spiritual Beliefs Are Being Exploited

• Spiritual Scams
• Community Safety
• Fraud Awareness

Scammers are targeting vulnerable individuals with fake spiritual healing offers. Learn how these scams work and how to protect yourself and your community.

What Are Prayer and Blessing Scams?

Prayer and blessing scams exploit the spiritual beliefs and emotional vulnerabilities of individuals, often targeting the elderly, women, and members of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. These scams are presented under the guise of spiritual healing, with fraudsters pretending to be spiritual leaders, healers, or psychics.

How the Scam Works

Scammers claim that a victim—or their loved one—is cursed, sick, or spiritually afflicted. To remedy this, the scammer says they must bless cash, jewellery, or other valuables to remove the curse or restore health.

• The victim is told to place these valuables into a bag for a ‘blessing’ or ritual.
• During the ceremony, the original bag is secretly swapped with one filled with worthless items like rice or water bottles.
• The victim is instructed not to open the bag for a certain period, or else the ‘prayer chain’ will be broken—giving the scammer time to escape.
• In some cases, scammers continue to ask for more money or valuables to complete the blessing.

Who Is Targeted?

These scams typically target:

• Elderly individuals
• Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with strong religious or spiritual beliefs

Scammers often speak the same language as their victims and use culturally relevant references to build trust and credibility.

Psychic Scams: The Online Variation

Similar scams occur online, where individuals seeking spiritual advice find fake psychics via websites or social media. Once a payment is made, the scammer either ghosts the victim or asks for more money, claiming the ritual was incomplete or more work is needed.

How to Protect Yourself and Others

• Be Skeptical of Spiritual Healing Requests: No legitimate healer will require valuables to perform blessings or remove curses.
• Do Not Hand Over Cash or Jewellery: Keep valuables secure and never agree to place them in a bag or hand them over to strangers.
• Watch for Manipulative Language: Be cautious of fear tactics, urgency, and warnings not to open items or speak to others.
• Talk to Trusted Family or Friends: If you're unsure, speak to someone you trust before taking action.
• Avoid Searching for Psychics Online: If you choose to consult spiritual advisors, use reputable sources and never send money in advance.

What to Do if You're Targeted

• Keep Records: Document all communication including names, numbers, emails, and social media handles.
• Report It: Immediately report the incident to your local police. Share all evidence to assist with investigations.
• Spread Awareness: Talk to your community—especially vulnerable individuals—to help prevent future scams.

Final Thoughts

Prayer and blessing scams are cruel and calculated, preying on people's faith and trust. By staying informed and supporting each other, we can reduce the impact of these heartless crimes and protect those most at risk.