“After that I told my wife what happened. I was frozen, I do not even know what happened. “I trusted this guy,” Fred said. “I felt bad with them because it is Ramadan and they did not have money for food and hotel. I was deceived. “ He hopes that his story will make the public aware of this issue, so that it does not happen to anyone else. Usual phenomenon Bocian Jewelers owner Alex Bocian said stories like those of Prince Albert are unfortunate, not uncommon. Two to three times a week he said people would visit his store to check if the jewelry was real or fake. Botsian explained that all the stories are very similar, where the scammer will have a family in the car and need money for gas or something else. He added that this has been happening for years and lately it has worsened, not only in the PA but also in the surrounding area. “I tell customers to go get the sign and go to the police, but the police usually do nothing if they are not seen doing so,” Botsian said. “But I guarantee if the police go [and find them] they will find hundreds of rings and things in the car. “ He explained that there is no way for the average person to know if the jewelry is fake or genuine. “Unless you’re a goldsmith or a watchmaker, I do not think you can tell the difference. “You can not because it looks real,” said Bocian. “I tell them before you buy, bring it. I’m not charged to tell you if it ‘s true or not, but [the scammer] he will not let you do that. “ “They are just looting poor people; for me, it’s unspeakable, it’s sick,” he said, adding that it was important to drive these types of people out of the area. Police reaction Prince Albert Police Department (PAPS) spokeswoman Charlene Tebbutt said they had received reports of people approaching for money in exchange for things like gold and in many cases being asked to give the money in an emergency. “What we would suggest is not to let anyone force you to make a quick decision about it, especially when it comes to your money. “They can definitely report it to the police or they can also report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center, which has a lot of information on their website and through their phone number for fraud prevention and protection,” he said. – [email protected] On Twitter: @ IanGustafson12