Jeweler prevents $47,000 scam targeting elderly woman
By Nick Bohr
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WAUKESHA, Wisconsin (WISN) — A Waukesha jeweler is being credited with preventing a scam targeting an elderly Brookfield woman who was pressured to buy gold and hand over the gold and cash to a thief.
According to Waukesha police, Costa’s Fine Jewelry and Coins co-owner Yianni Roupas called authorities last week after an 84-year-old woman came into the store saying she urgently needed $30,000 worth of gold.
“And was literally almost writing a check for exactly $30,000, and we haven’t even picked out an ounce of gold yet; we don’t know what type of gold, we don’t know the premium,” Roupas said.
“We just kind of felt like it was weird,” he added.
Roupas suspected someone was pressuring the woman to buy the gold as part of a scam when she couldn’t explain what she wanted or why.
“It just felt skeptical that she’d never done it; she’s in her mid-to-late 80s,” Roupas said. “Just kind of put two and two together that something fishy is going on, something not right, doesn’t feel right, so we just contacted Waukesha Police Department and gave them the story.”
While waiting for the woman’s check to clear, police determined she was being conned, preventing her from handing over any gold or the $17,000 in cash she had also planned to give the con artist who had been speaking to her on the phone.
Roupas emphasized the importance of being cautious when a person is asked to buy gold for someone else.
“Do not give your gold away. Because once you give it away, it’s gone. They’re not holding it for you. They’re taking it and they’re stealing it,” he said.
Waukesha police praised Costa’s Fine Jewelry and Coins for protecting the woman.
“They did a great job of protecting her,” police said.
Roupas said the woman returned to the store over the weekend to thank them for looking out for her.
“She came in and just thanked everybody and was so happy that we chose to do something because I think she was so fearful of the people on the phone, that she didn’t feel she could do anything for herself,” Roupas said.
Authorities also reminded the public to be skeptical of any calls asking for personal or financial information and advised, “When in doubt, hang up and call a trusted family member or the organization directly.”
The Town of Brookfield police, where the woman lives, are investigating the attempted theft.
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