Police in Midlands have issued fresh warnings about bogus faith healers who trick people into handing over cash for 'cures' for everything from cancer to financial trouble.
Officers reportedly spoke out after recovering a number of advertising leaflets in the Belgrave area of Leicester in the past couple of weeks. They also confirmed two suspects are currently under investigation for allegedly conning people out of money.
The force has previously spoken out against 'healers' who claim to be able to use prayer to lift curses, heal broken marriages and solve financial problems. Others who have targeted the city have said they could cure illnesses including cancer and HIV.
Inspector Ben Gillard, commander of Leicester's Spinney Hill Park police station, reportedly said his officers had been alerted to a new batch of leaflets which have been delivered to homes or left on car windscreens in recent weeks.
Leading members of the city's faith groups have previously backed the police's warning. They have handed the material to Leicester City Council's trading standards team for further investigation.
In a similar stint, Asian Voice ran a campaign against the fake faith healers, after repeated requests or complaints from the community. In the process the newspaper lost £50,000 worth revenue from these faith healers, but have maintained its dignity and held its values high. We have also requested tv channels and other newspapers from giving these faith healers space to advertise.
Officials are now working with police to investigate the latest leaflets.
Police won a notable praise after their campaign against con artists in February this year with the arrest and conviction of Mohammed Ashrafi. Ashrafi, 50, was jailed for nine years after he was convicted of 14 counts of fraud and one of blackmail – taking an estimated £650,000 from his victims.
