Drivers Targeted in Rash of Jewelry-for-Cash Schemes, Say Police

 The Bellevue Police Department issued a warning this week advising residents to be vigilant of an emerging scam involving strangers attempting to exchange fake jewelry for cash. According to authorities, incidents of this con, known as the “jewelry exchange” scam, have increased substantially this year with at least 10 cases reported to date.

The scam typically begins with criminals flagging down drivers and concocting elaborate stories to convince them the jewelry is real and valuable. They will claim to be down on their luck and in urgent need of gas money or funds for a hotel room. As payment, they offer the driver expensive looking rings, necklaces or watches and provide a phone number to call for reimbursement. However, once the criminals leave with the money, victims discover the jewelry is worthless and the contact information is fraudulent.

“This scam is effective because the jewelry can appear quite genuine on initial inspection,” said Sgt. Ryan Abbott, a spokesperson for the Bellevue Police Department. “We advise residents to be very wary of any stranger attempting to trade jewelry for cash, as in nearly every case, the items end up being fake.”

The most recent incident occurred on Tuesday when a man exiting Interstate 90 was flagged down by two individuals near 150th Avenue SE. The pair claimed they had run out of gas and offered the man several pieces of jewelry in exchange for money to buy fuel and pay for a hotel room. Believing the story, the man withdrew cash from a nearby ATM and handed it over. However, upon returning home, he realized the items were fake.

This encounter closely mirrors at least eight other episodes reported to Bellevue police this year. In each case, one or more strangers approached drivers with the same gas money ruse and fraudulent jewelry. After taking the cash, they provided phone numbers that turned out to be inactive. Every victim reported the jewelry had little to no financial value.

Authorities believe organized groups of grifters are responsible, singling out perceived “Good Samaritans” to take advantage of their willingness to help. “These criminals exploit human decency and trust in an attempt to cheat people out of their money,” Sgt. Abbott said. “While their stories may sound compelling, we strongly advise against engaging with or providing any cash to strangers making odd requests on the roadside.”

With cases on the rise this year, police are ramping up public awareness efforts through media alerts and community outreach. They are asking drivers who encounter similar situations to refrain from taking any jewelry and to instead call 911 and report details like vehicle descriptions. Officers can then respond and attempt to locate the suspects.

“The best course of action is to avoid interacting with these scammers altogether and alert authorities so we can try to catch them in the act,” Sgt. Abbott said. “Do not let yourself be pressured or persuaded into a hasty decision you’ll come to regret.”

Above all, police underscored that under no circumstances should motorists exchange money or valuables with strangers propositioning them along roadways. “Simply decline, drive away and contact police if the individuals persist or become aggressive,” Sgt. Abbott advised.

With the holidays approaching and shopping mall traffic picking up, officers will be on heightened alert for jewelry exchange scams and other types of fraud targeting people in parked vehicles or walking through lots. Additional patrols will be deployed at high visibility locations across the city.

In the meantime, Sgt. Abbott emphasized vigilance and awareness as the best defenses against this insidious con. “Trust your instincts if an offer sounds too good to be true,” he said. “In many cases, that’s exactly what it is.”