It should not come as a surprise that parking lots are one of the most dangerous places in the US, as it could be due to bad lighting or lack of security. That means anyone can go into a parking lot, as many violent crimes have happened in parking lots as well as garages because of those factors.
However, if you happen to enter a parking lot, the police tell you that you need to keep an eye on something there. And if you see it, you must call 9-1-1 right away. Police have been spreading the word about this to people. And in San Antonio, TX, the police had been sending out alerts there since January 2022 about scam artists there handing out fake QR codes on public meters. And therefore, people have been giving their private payment info because of this sneaky tactic. Therefore, they pay for parking on a fake and fraudulent website.
Then in June, police warned people in Chicago about those going door to door asking residents about water and plumbing problems. And therefore, these people use this tactic to distract the residents so they can steal their jewelry, money, and other valuables. Now, there is another issue that is happening in parking lots which is why you need to call 9-1-1 right away if you see it.
People Selling Watches And Jewelry In Parking Lots
This tactic started in Pennsylvania with people approaching others in parking lots selling jewelry and watches. And those “jewelry” pieces are counterfeit even though they are being sold at a high price. So that means if you are buying a Rolex from a random person in a parking lot, how legitimate could that be?
And this is not only happening in Pennsylvania as it is beginning to become a problem in all areas of the US, and it may be happening in other countries such as Canada too. It has been reported in Ottawa. People have been sold fake gold for high prices, and the way that those scammers reel you in is by telling you that they have been stranded and don’t have money to get gas. Therefore, they are selling their jewelry so they can get the cash to buy gas.
You also want to remember that gold is very easy to liquidate and if someone has a lot of gold, they are not so desperate for gas money. Those who are selling this fake gold are claiming that it is 18K as that is a very high-quality form of gold. And chains are illegally made and also incorrectly stamped out so the scammers that use them to scam people can do it because ordinary people are not going to know the difference between real gold and fake gold.
Call The Police Right Away If You See Someone Selling Jewelry
The best thing you can do is if you see someone going around selling jewelry in parking lots, you must call the police immediately. Some people are hesitant to call the police for this reason because of the embarrassment of falling for the scam. However, it is best to put that aside and to call the police because these incidents need reporting. And even if you see what is going on and you were approached, and you did not fall for it, call the police anyway because they need to be taken away. This scam needs to stop. They can easily scam vulnerable people such as teenagers, the elderly, and those that are cognitively disabled. The quicker that these incidents are reported, the better the police will be at catching these criminals. Scamming is a crime, and it needs to end.
