Seniors targeted by chatty scammers ripping off gold jewelry: police

VANCOUVER – Vancouver police are warning the public about con artists who use the art of distraction to target seniors and rob them of their gold jewelry.

Const. Randy Fincham says the scammers have duped several elderly people by overwhelming them with chatter before switching their valuable jewelry with something fake.

He says the thieves have sometimes replaced jewelry with a scarf that’s put on the victim’s head, neck or wrist.

Fincham says the suspects have been described as both men and women, and the women often wear flowing dresses and scarves.

He says the culprits have sometimes left in a waiting car.

Police are advising people to conceal valuable jewelry under their clothing to avoid being ripped off.