Winnipeggers targeted in fake gold jewelry scam

Winnipeggers are being warned about a scam involving fake gold jewelry being sold on the street.

During the past month, the Winnipeg Police Service says it has received numerous reports of incidents in which people were approached and offered gold jewellery for sale.

The buyers would later get the jewelry appraised and learn it was fake.

In one case, a man was approached in a parking lot on the 3600 block of Portage Avenue by another man with a tale of woe about needing money, clothing and fuel in order to get his young family back home to the Toronto area.

The man who was approached offered to assist the family and invited them back to his house, where he gave them clothes and offered to fill their vehicle with fuel.

The suspect, who was with another man, two women and two children, then asked for cash in exchange for gold jewelry he was wearing.

The samaritan gave him "a significant amount of cash" and the suspect left with the others.

As with other victims, the samaritan learned the jewelry was fake gold.

The man selling the fake gold is described as being 30-35 years old, about five feet and four inches tall, and weighing 170-180 pounds. He had a light brown goatee, was wearing a baseball hat, brown jacket and light coloured jeans, police said.

The vehicle is described as a newer model, white Toyota crew cab with a possible Alberta licence plate.