Police on Vancouver Island are warning residents about fake jewellery scammers after three similar incidents were reported in Parksville and Nanaimo on June 6.
Oceanside RCMP said a man driving a black Audi SUV stopped pedestrians in Parksville and asked for directions. During the conversations, police said the man and a female passenger handed jewellery to the pedestrians in what appeared to be a ruse to sell fake items or steal real jewellery the people were already wearing.
In both Parksville incidents, the people refused the offers and the vehicle drove away. A short time later in Nanaimo, police said the same suspects used an identical approach and successfully stole a real gold necklace from a person in a residential area.
The Scam Starts With Directions Or A Family Emergency
Two people were approached in Parksville by a couple driving a black Audi, trying to sell fake jewellery. One person had a necklace stolen from them with the scammers using sleight of hand. https://t.co/f0TO9kPkrh #Nanaimo #Parksville
— NanaimoNewsNOW.com (@NanaimoNewsNOW) June 16, 2026
The setup is designed to look like a quick, emotional interaction rather than a planned theft. RCMP said scammers may claim they are lost, out of money, or dealing with a family emergency, then shift the conversation to jewellery they want to sell at a deep discount or give as thanks.
Police said the jewellery being offered is fake and has no value. In some cases, the scammer may try to place jewellery on the victim or give a hug while using sleight of hand to remove the person’s real jewellery.
That is what police said happened in Nanaimo. According to RCMP, a woman placed a necklace she was trying to sell around a person’s neck and removed the victim’s real gold necklace during the exchange.
Police Said The Suspects Left Without Useful Video Or A Plate Number
NanaimoNewsNOW reported that none of the three locations had useful surveillance footage and no licence plate was reported to police. Oceanside RCMP Sgt. Shane Worth told the outlet that similar scams have happened before in the mid-Island area, sometimes involving different vehicles or people.
“They’re very well trained, and in that same second sleight of hand, they’re able to remove your real jewellery, and they’re off,” Worth told NanaimoNewsNOW.
Worth said the scammers appeal to emotions and try to move the conversation quickly from directions or an emergency story to jewellery. That speed matters because the victim may be focused on the story, the offer, or the stranger’s hands only after the real necklace, bracelet, ring, or watch is already gone.
The Safest Response Is To Walk Away
RCMP said people should be cautious if anyone approaches them in public and tries to sell or give them jewellery. Worth gave a direct warning in the RCMP release: “If anyone approaches trying to sell or give you jewellery, be aware that it is likely a scam and walk away.”
Police advised residents not to engage, not to accept jewellery, and not to allow strangers to place necklaces, bracelets, rings, or watches on them. The key warning is the physical contact: a stranger who wants to put jewellery on someone, hug them, or stand close during a sales pitch may be trying to distract them long enough to remove something real.
A Similar Scam Hit Nanaimo Last Year
NanaimoNewsNOW reported that a similar fake-gold scam was reported in July 2025 involving a newer green Jaguar SUV. In that earlier case, a man sold fake gold to a person outside a north-end grocery store for $400 after claiming he needed money for a family emergency overseas.
The current RCMP warning does not say anyone has been arrested in the June 6 incidents. Anyone approached in a similar way should leave the area, record details from a safe distance if possible, and contact local police with the vehicle description, location, time, and any licence plate information.