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REVIEW RICHMONDREVIEW.COM
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015
Hopped up on chocolate
32 PAGES
Trio bound, badly beaten as cops look for attackers Investigators believe it was a case of mistaken identity
Richmond RCMP photo
by Martin van den Hemel
All that glitters is not gold.
Staff Reporter
‘Ancient treasures’ scam bilks victims RCMP issue warning to residents, who are target of fraudsters by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter Richmond Mounties are warning residents about a gold scam that has resurfaced and bilked unsuspecting locals out of tens of thousands of dollars in some cases. RCMP Acting Cpl. Dennis Hwang said the victims are all Asian women in their late 40s, or older, who speak Mandarin fluently and are typically employed in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. “Some victims have been defrauded of several tens of thousands of dollars,” Hwang said. The victims are tricked into purchasing what the fraud artists claim are “priceless ancient Chinese treasures” but are instead worthless. The last reported incident had been in 2010, but the
scam resurfaced in Richmond as recently as last month. In at least two of the incidents currently being investigated by police, the suspect poses as a Chinese foreign construction worker who claims to have uncovered a treasure trove of artifacts at a construction site. “These artifacts are purported to be priceless gold ingots and gold figurines of Buddha. The suspect is willing to sell the trove to the victim as a substantial loss,” Hwang said. Variations of this story may be used to deceive the victims, he stressed. The suspect is described as an Asian male, in his 30s, who speaks Mandarin fluently. He may be either working alone, or has a male accomplice who also speaks Mandarin and is roughly the same age. “It is unfortunate for us to have to reiterate, but if a deal sounds too good to be true, it most likely is,” RCMP Const. Janice Xia said. See Page 6
Martin van den Hemel photo Dorothy Suen and Anita Schulz, from Sinfully The Best chocolates, fine foods and gifts on Chatham Street in Steveston, display a five kilogram easter bunny, made from 62 per cent dark chocolate, and created by Suen. The bunny will be raffled off at noon on April 3, with proceeds to support the Richmond Food Bank. Tickets are $1 each, and as of Wednesday afternoon, some $200 had been raised, with the store’s owners promising to match the contribution.
A “very disturbing and vicious assault” on three innocent people found bound on River Road last month has Richmond RCMP investigators hoping a witness will help them find who was responsible. On Feb. 28, around 11 p.m., local police responded to a noise complaint from a quiet section of River Road, between No. 7 Road and No. 8 Road. Officers discovered three adults—a woman and two men—who were bound and badly beaten. All three were rushed to hospital, with one male victim suffering extensive lacerations to his face and head. The victims were all Lower Mainland residents who have since been released from hospital. All have been cooperative with investigators who are trying to puzzle out who was responsible. The victims were sitting at a campfire, celebrating an anniversary, when they were approached by four unknown men. The men mistook the trio for somebody else, and proceeded to beat them. The suspects fled in a dark-coloured car. See Page 6
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