BAHOG LEADER,
STANDING BY
Posted on 04/20/2010 2:32:37 PM PDT by jiggyboy
A 50-year-old woman was the victim of a gold bar scam at Kmart on North Davis Road, according to the Salinas Police Department.
The victim was approached by a Spanish speaking woman in her 40s who struck up a conversation with her, police said.
The suspect said she needed help because a car had hit her uncle and he needed money, police said.
She went on to say she had found some gold bars to sell at which point a Spanish speak male accomplice walked up and entered the conversation, police said.
The female suspect said she had the bars appraised for well over $10,000 but she would sell her and the man a gold bar for $9,000 each, police said.
The victim drove the suspects to her home and picked up $9,000 cash, police said.
She then drove the man to Wells Fargo on South Main where he as seen possibly going inside and returning later with cash, police said.
The victim and man handed the money to the female suspect, received their bars and then the victim dropped the suspects off at Wal-Mart, police said.
When the victim took the to be appraised she found out it was fake, police said.
Anyone with information related to the crime or who may have been a witness is asked to contact the Salinas Police Department Detective Division at 831-758-7226.
If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at 831- 775-4222, or the We-Tip Line at 1-800-78-CRIME.
Note that "Spanish speaking" as the descriptor says to me that it's an illegal-on-illegal ("Spanish speaking") scam here. Salinas is about 70 miles south of San Jose and is about 95% American-Mexican (i.e. Mexicans who happen to live in America).
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I need $10,000 and I need more lemon pledge.
LOL took me a little while
That is a new level of stupid.
Who buys gold bars in a Wal-Mart parking lot? If the “gold”-peddler needed money ... why would she come to you in a WM parking lot for $9K rather than going to the actual buyer for $10K?
Sometimes, victims get what they deserve.
SnakeDoc
My young son has a box of crayons and I noticed that one of them was GOLD! I'd gladly sell this one for $50 bucks if she wants it too.
How can anybody be that stupid?
Are you telling me you never sold gold bars in a wal-Mart parking lot?
I’ve been seriously thinking about sending some lemon Pledge to Sonia Sotomayor.
Did you ever see "The Flim-Flam Man" starring George C. Scott?
Chances are good that the 'spanish speaking man' was in on the scam in order to make the mark feel more comfortable about parting with $9000.
I prefer Target for precious metal sales. Better clientele.
SnakeDoc
Yeah....I have about 9K just sitting in my sock drawer right now....
Just buying the gold bars that taxpayers can’t afford to.
Fake gold is plaguing even the banks and financial houses.
Tungsten has the same density as gold and is easy to buy, so the bad guys make a tungsten brick and then coat is with real gold. You can’t tell the difference after that, unless you drill into the bar or try to cut it in half.
I cannot remember who said it, and I am probably butchering it, but, “It is immoral to allow a fool to keep his money.”
>>Are you telling me you never sold gold bars in a wal-Mart parking lot?<<
That’s why I have my white van. ;)
I’ve heard of a version of this scam called “Mexican Lottery”.
Stupid is too mild of a description for this lady.
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