SAN FRANCISCO—On Wednesday, April 3, the San Francisco Police Department announced in a news release that a suspect involved in a Blessing Scam was arrested.
The SFPD reported on January 23, at approximately 11:30 a.m. a blessing scam transpired where a victim was waiting by herself for the bus in the Excelsior District. The victim was approached by an unknown male who started a conversation with the victim. During the conversation, two unknown females joined and helped convince the victim to retrieve her most valuable items from her home to be blessed. After the victim gathered the items, a ceremony was conducted with the victim’s valuables. The victim later discovered her valuables were gone.
On January 25, at approximately 4 p.m. another blessing scam transpired where a victim who was walking by herself in the outer Mission was approached by an unknown male and female. The two subjects started a conversation with the victim.
As the conversation continued all parties walked into an alley where a second unknown female joined them. The suspects convinced the victim to gather her valuables to be blessed. The victim gathered US Currency and jewelry which was blessed by the suspects in a ceremony with the victim’s valuables. The victim later discovered her valuables were switched with similar weighted items.
The SFPD Special Victims Unit (SVU) has been leading the investigations. SVU investigators were able to locate the vehicle used in the crimes and identify the suspects. Investigators developed probable cause to obtain a search warrant for the suspect vehicle, which was located and seized. During the search of the vehicle, evidence was located and seized that was linked to both blessing scams.
Investigators developed probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for one of the suspects. On February 26, SVU investigators located the suspect, Chen Kun Lo, 68, in the Los Angeles area and arrested him without incident.
During the arrest, investigators found Lo in possession of items believed to be stolen from the blessing scam victims, as well as possession of child pornography. He was booked for the felony charges of possession of stolen property (496(a) PC) and possession of child pornography (311.11(a) PC).
Investigators have identified the other suspects who are still at large at present. Anyone with details is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.
