When someone in need asks you for your help what do you do?
And if they offered you an 18 karat gold necklace, what would you say?
On July 26, around 11:30 a.m. Thamas Biggs and her father Albert Dean were faced with these same questions.
They have a trusting nature and are used to helping those in need. Unfortunately, their kindness was taken advantage of that day.
While having lunch at A&W in Westlock, the pair was scammed out of $100. A man, whom they assumed to be of Middle Eastern descent, approached them asking for help. He was dressed nicely, spoke politely and was sincere with “honest eyes,” said Biggs.
“He told me he was trying to get home to Winnipeg and asked if he could trade this 18K gold necklace that he had for a tank of fuel, $100 worth of fuel,” said Biggs.
The man offered Biggs and Dean more jewelry, but they refused.
“He kept saying praise God, praise God,” said Biggs.
Later at the jewelers, Biggs and her father were shocked to learn the necklace was made of brass and not gold.
Biggs reported the incident to the Westlock RCMP complaint line but was told there was nothing that could be done.
“It was a $100 lesson,” she said. “It was just bad luck and gullibility on our part.”
She wishes she had noticed things weren’t what they seemed at the time and not after.
“The guy said he was going home to Winnipeg. Winnipeg is in Manitoba, but he had an Ontario licence plate,” she said.
Biggs urges the Westlock community to be wary of anyone asking for help, especially if they offer you jewelry.
Westlock RCMP staff Sgt. Al Baird wants residents to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Baird stresses that even though RCMP may not be able to do anything at the time, they still want to know about scammers in town.
“You’ve got to be careful when you’re approached by people like that, unless you know what you’re looking at in jewelry,” he said.
“We want to know about those for sure. If they wait three or four hours after they get home and get it figured out, (the scammer) is long gone, but if anyone is suspicious that somebody is doing that to you, they should let us know,” said Baird.
“These guys and gals can be quite convincing and they take advantage of people’s good nature.”
