Canby Police Department

Press Release

September 26, 2007 11:31 AM

Canby woman victim of deception by promise of gold

On Monday September 24th a 29 year old Canby woman reported that she was scammed out of $1000.00 by two Hispanic males. The woman told police she was shopping in the Canby Fred Meyer, when she was approached by an older Hispanic male.

The older male handed the victim an envelope and asked if she could help him locate a person in the Canby area. The victim told the older male that she could not help him because there was no address on the envelope.

At this time, a younger Hispanic male approached them and the older male asked him the same question. The younger male replied that he could not help because there was not enough information on the envelope.

The older male then told a story of how his uncle had been injured in a traffic accident and was in the hospital. The younger male then opened the envelope and took out a letter and read it. The victim told officers the letter mentioned gold.

The older male then told them that he had located a suitcase full of gold bars at the scene of the traffic crash where his uncle was injured. The older male told the victim he was trying to return the suitcase to the owners and then planned to ask them for money for his uncles medical bills.

The younger male then tells the older male he should sell the gold bars himself and give the money to his uncle since there was no way to locate the owners. The younger male tells the older male that he used to work for Fred Meyer and knew someone in the jewelry department.

The older male agreed to give the younger male a piece of gold to show the jeweler. The younger male then returns a short time later with what appeared to be a large amount of cash in a plastic bag.

The younger male then tells the older male and victim that he was given $10,000 to $15,000 for the gold by Fred Meyer jewelers. The younger male told the older male and victim that the jeweler could not buy anymore gold until 7:00pm.

The older male told them that he could not wait that long, so the younger male offered to buy gold from the older male and then return to sell it later.

The younger male convinced the victim to take them to the bank so she could withdraw $1000.00 to purchase some of the gold. The victim took both of the suspects to the Canby Wells Fargo Bank.

According to the victim, the older male waited outside while the younger male came into the bank with her. As they entered the bank, the younger male put on a pair of sunglasses.

After withdrawing the money, the victim returned to Fred Meyer with the suspects. The younger male gave her a phone number and the name "Arturo". He told the victim to return to Fred Meyer at 7:00pm to get the gold.

The victim came to Fred Meyer at 7:00pm and the suspects never returned. She attempted to call the phone number and found it came back to a business not the suspect.

The victim, who is Hispanic herself, was embarrassed and did not know what to do and delayed calling the police.

TThe victim described the suspects as an older Hispanic male that was in his 50's or 60's. He was about 4' 10" tall and had a thin build. He had a dark complexion and a thin mustache. He appeared dirty and poor wearing a straw hat, brown shirt and blue jeans.

The younger male was described by the victim as being Hispanic, about 35 years old and had light skin. She said he was taller and had a medium build with short brown curly hair. He was wearing a white button down shirt and dark slacks. The victim said he appeared clean and well spoken.

Attached are surveillance pictures from Wells Fargo Bank. If anyone recognizes the suspect in these pictures, please contact the Canby Police Department at 503 266-1104.

The case is being investigated by Canby Police Detectives.