Arlington Scammers Pretend to be Broken Down, Try to Sell Fake Gold: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — Police are warning the public to be on the lookout for people next to a disabled vehicle who are trying to flag motorists down -- they may try to sell you some fake gold.

Police say that there are two instances in Arlington of motorists being flagged down to assist what appears to be a disabled vehicle. The subjects then tell the motorist that they are "down on their luck" and need money urgently, and offer to sell some fake jewelry, according to a report from the Arlington County Police Department.

Another scam that has been cropping up lately involves swapping fake jewelry for a person's real jewelry while pretending to try to sell something.

"While the victim is distracted, the subjects attempt to remove the victim’s real jewelry and replace it with fake jewelry," the report states. "Citizens should be skeptical of anyone who approaches them offering to sell items such as precious metals or consumer goods such as electronics. Citizens should also be aware of their surroundings, remove valuables from plain sight, keep belongings such as jewelry close to their person and park in a well-lit, high-traffic areas."

Police say that anyone who sees a disabled vehicle in Arlington County should call the Emergency Communication Center at 703-528-2222 and request assistance for the motorist.

Image via ACPD