Sheriff's Office alerts of potential scam

DAVENPORT—Is a jewelry heist rumbling through Lincoln County? Not quite, but the Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens to be aware of a group that is possibly trying to pawn gold jewels off for cash.

“The scam involves what appears to be a small family showing up in communities across the country and pretending to be in need of money for gas or vehicle issues and offering what is being described as ‘solid gold jewelry for quick cash,” the Sheriff’s Office posted to Facebook Monday, Sept. 12. “In reality, they are selling costume jewelry and making away with your cash.”

Several calls have come into the Sheriff’s Office this week, including from one Davenport woman who said her father was scammed out of hundreds of dollars by the group.

Some citizens claimed on Facebook that the group had come through Harvest Foods in Coulee Dam, Wilbur, Stevens County, the Spokane Valley Costco and locally outside Hardy Hardware.

“Because this is a widespread scam we do not have specific vehicle/people descriptions at this time,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote before urging citizens to contact dispatch if they see anyone trying to sell jewelry.