Police seek leads in fake jewelry scam
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is investigating a fake jewelry scam that is reported to have had several local victims.
At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to a theft call in the 400 block of Sixth Street, the department said.
The victim stated he was approached by a male appearing to be Middle Eastern, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build and a short beard, police said.
Police said the victim stated the suspect told him he had been robbed of all his money and only had the pictured gold chain and ring. The suspect asked the victim for $500 and stated the jewelry was worth $3,000.
The victim stated he had approximately $128 in his hand. The suspect placed the jewelry in the victim’s hand and took his money, then left in a newer black Cadillac Escalade, according to police.
The police report said the victim took the jewelry to a local jeweler who advised him it was fake and had no monetary value.
Officers later followed up with the jeweler, who advised them that eight people in the last month have brought him the same jewelry that was bought from who police suspect to be the same individual, the department said.
Anyone who has information about this suspect, incident or who has been a victim of this same scam is asked to contact Officer Tyler Trouette by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone at 707-263-5491, Extension 118.
Additionally persons can contact the department by private message on Facebook or anonymously by texting the words TIP LAKEPORT to 888777.