SALINAS, Calif. -- If you are approached by someone in the parking lot of a business and they are trying to sell you a 'pure' bar of gold for a reasonable price, chances are the offer is too good to be true.
And that's the exact message Salinas Police are trying to get out to the public.
On Wednesday evening, officers contacted a 69 year old woman who fell victim to this 'gold bar scam' in the parking lot of 1030 East Alisal Street.
Coincidentally, this is the same location that another person fell victim to a 'winning lottery ticket scam' where you guessed it, someone sold the person what they claimed to be a ticket to riches.
In the 'gold bar scam', the woman was approached by a woman who claimed to need money for legal bills and was selling the gold bars out of desperation.
At this time, another man approached the 69 year old woman and the female suspect, showing interest in purchasing one of the gold bars to get it appraised.
The man then returned a short time later and said the gold bar was appraised at $15,000 by a local jewelry store.
Unfortunately the victim fell for the scam and went home and obtained some cash, returned to the parking lot as agreed and completed the transaction.
The gold bar turned out to be fake.
It does not appear that the two scams within a week are related but anyone with information related to either of these two incidents is asked to contact the Salinas Police Department.
