Mounties in the West Shore are advising residents to be cautious after two recent reports of fraud involving fake jewelry.
The first incident was reported on Saturday, Feb. 3, when a person walking along Massie Close near Langford was flagged down by a couple.
The victim told police that a man driving a grey Mercedes SUV, with a female passenger inside, had lost his wallet and needed money for gas to get home to Chilliwack.
The man offered to give the victim a gold ring and necklace in exchange for cash. The victim agreed and later determined the jewelry was fake.
Similar report
Two days later, on Feb. 5, Mounties say they received a report of someone walking near the 1700-block of Old Island Highway when they were approached by a vehicle with a man, woman and two youth inside.
“The man and woman advised the complainant they were hungry and could not afford to eat,” said the West Shore RCMP in a release Wednesday.
“The victim gave them money for food and they offered a gold necklace in exchange,” police said.
The victim in this case also determined that the necklace was fake.
“We want to warn the public against this type of fraud which often involves drawing the victim in with a sad or tragic story,” said West Shore RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Nancy Saggar.
“It’s OK to say no and report suspicious activity to police right away,” she added. “Make note of things like licence plates and suspect descriptions to give police the best chance of catching these suspects.”
The two suspects are both described as Middle Eastern, with the man appearing to be in his late 30s and about 5’6” tall.
The vehicle they were driving is described as a dark brown, four-door vehicle, possibly a Mercedes Benz.
Mounties say the two incidents are similar to fraud reports that cropped up in April, when scammers were offering to exchange fake jewelry for cash.
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