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All that glitters in Richmond is not gold.
RCMP issued a warning Saturday, saying fraudsters are once again selling fake gold and jewelry around the city. There have been four reports in recent weeks involving this fraud type.
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It’s important for residents in Richmond to be cautious and not fall for these scams, especially in situations where individuals are using emotional manipulation to deceive victims. These scams can be convincing and play on people’s sympathies, so it’s crucial to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
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RCMP Cpl. Adriana O’Malley said fake gold scams continue to resurface in Richmond, adding that in recent incidents the suspects involved have employed two techniques.
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These include verbal inducements, such as playing on a person’s emotions or selling the gold at a low price, and slight of hand where the suspect places the fake jewelry onto the victim and then removes the victim’s actual jewelry along with the fake items.
O’Malley said the suspects committing these frauds can be very persuasive, often using stories that prey on the victim’s compassion to give money. These stories can include needing money to feed their family, or they may have their children present to add to the emotional pressure.
Richmond RCMP is asking people to walk away from these situations and when it’s safe to do so report the incident to the police.
Other Metro Vancouver cities have reported similar scams involving fake jewelry.
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