NYPD warning about jewelry scams targeting elderly New Yorkers

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The NYPD is warning about scammers working in groups to target elderly New Yorkers.

They're allegedly using fake jewelry to distract victims and swap their expensive jewelry.

There's also a scam for fraudulent home repair services.

Police say 22-year-old Stefania Alexandru scammed a 76-year-old woman out of a $3,000 necklace back in March.

"At one point in that video, she does say, 'Come out to the car. Come see my children in the car. And this is a stranger. You know, they've never met before. So this is very odd behavior," Lt. Kevin Kelly with NYPD Crime Prevention said.

The NYPD discussed a spike in the jewelry swapping scam with 11 incidents between February and March targeting older New Yorkers in Brooklyn and Queens.

"What they do is they're just looking for somebody that's wearing visible jewelry," Kelly said.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the scheme and were charged with multiple counts of grand larceny.

There have been no arrests in an incident in April where police say a 69-year-old woman was flagged down for directions and tricked out of a $900 gold necklace.

"Now you see the suspect's hands are again around the victim's neck. And now she pulls her in for a hug. And then this is when the real jewelry is removed," Kelly said.

In the 11 incidents, a total of $90,000 in jewelry was stolen.

Police are still looking for other suspects.

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