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Residents have been warned after two people were scammed by men who exchanged fake gold for cash in West Kelowna.
On Aug. 17, a man was flagged down by two other men in a grey Infiniti who said they were out of gas.
They were near Dobbin Road.
The Good Samaritan offered to take the men – who were both well dressed and said they were from Dubai – to a gas station but insisted they needed cash instead.
They offered to give the man gold in exchange for money.
It turned out to be fake gold.
One of the men is described as Middle Eastern, in his 40s, bald, about 5ft 9in and stocky.
The other was said to be younger and bearded, with dark hair.
In another incident – on Aug. 30 – a man was approached in the parking lot of a restaurant on Gellatly Road.
A man, who was with a woman, said he was not from Canada and needed cash to buy medicine for his sick child.
He offered gold in exchange for cash, but when the victim took it to a nearby jeweller, it was found to be fake.
The scammer was described as dark-skinned and driving a silver Subaru with Alberta plates.
Another resident called KelownaNow to report a separate incident, this time along Westside Road and in the spring.
A man – who claimed to be from Dubai – said he was out of fuel and needed help.
The resident took him to a gas station and filled up his tank, initially refusing the gold he was offered in exchange.
But the man insisted, the resident explained, and presented a box of jewellery.
He told the resident to pick out some items, all of which turned out to be fake.
If you know anything about these suspects, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit their website at www.crimestoppers.net.
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