Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020
File: 20-47144
Victoria, BC – Officers are warning the public after a vulnerable 61-year-old Victoria man was victimized by a scam involving the sale of fake gold jewelry.
At approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 21st, a vulnerable 61-year-old man was walking in the 600-block of Craigflower Road when he was flagged down by two unknown men in a parked vehicle. The men convinced the victim to purchase two gold rings and two gold chains from them. The victim did not have enough money for the jewelry, so the suspects drove the victim to an ATM where they stood by while he withdrew money. In total the victim paid the suspect $460 for fake gold jewelry.
The suspects then drove the victim back to the area where they picked him up. The incident was reported to police on November 29th.
The suspects are described as two Middle-Eastern adult men with full beards and thick accents. They are described as having difficulty speaking English.
The vehicle is described as a grey or silver newer model medium-sized sedan with four doors.
On November 22nd, Saanich Police received a similar report of two suspicious men in a silver vehicle who attempted to convince a 26-year-old man to enter their vehicle to purchase a gold ring. The man refused and was not defrauded by the suspects.
Officers are warning the public of these incidents and encouraging anyone approached by a suspicious person offering to sell jewelry to decline, leave the area, and contact police.
If you have information about this incident, or recognize these suspects, please call our Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 ext 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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