Jewel fraudsters warning

Rochdale business men and women are being warned to be on their guard against a gang of jewel fraudsters.

Last month, one Asian business man handed over £5,000 for fake gems at Manchester’s Victoria Station. Another lost £13,500, which he paid for worthless stones at Piccadilly Station.

The victims are conned into handing over cash for supposed precious stones which the fraudsters claim have been imported from mines in South Africa, but the gems are, in fact, glass.

One of the targets spent money he had saved for his son’s education. Another handed over funds set aside for his daughter’s wedding. British Transport Police believe there are many more victims who have not reported the sting.

Although handovers take place at rail stations, original contacts are made weeks earlier in supermarket car parks or motorway service stations.

Det Sgt Craig Thomas, who is leading the investigation, said: “It is vitally important that this gang is stopped before more people are conned into handing over large sums of money.

“These people are good actors and employ a fake jeweller to value the stones. I am urging people to be mindful of the methods used in this scam and report any incidents or information to BTP.”

Victims are only offered fake gems after weeks of painstaking preparation by the crooks, working in gangs of up to six people. Just over a week ago, a 39-year-old man from the Leeds area was arrested on suspicion of deception near to Piccadilly Railway station and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Sgt Thomas said: “It is a lengthy process and they spend a lot of time building up a relationship. They begin by offering a legitimate business deal. They will be approached on the pretext that the offender would like some building work or to discuss the sale of a car. Then suddenly, they have a cash-flow problem and out come the stones.”

Anyone with information who has also been approached by this gang should contact Det Sgt Thomas at British Transport Police, quoting log number 321 on Freefone 0800-405040 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111. All calls will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.