Teacups used in scam in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

SAN FRANCISCO — Scam artists who use a toxic chemical in a teacup to make their elderly victims feel dizzy and in need of “healing” are on the loose in the Chinese-American community, police warned.

Three victims have been duped so far, and one of them lost $900, police said last week.

A victim is approached by three Chinese suspects, a woman and two men, who ask if the victim is feeling sick. The suspects fill a teacup with water and invite the victim to stick a finger in the cup, explaining that it is a sign of illness if the water changes color, police said.

When the victims stick in their fingers, they begin to feel dizzy — apparently from a chemical in the water that is absorbed through the skin. The scam artists then demand money to provide a “cure.”