Two suspects were arrested today after scamming a local resident with fake gold jewelry and counterfeit Rolex watches part of a scheme that has defrauded victims of large sums of cash across multiple neighborhoods.

Shomrim had received several reports in recent days about a man approaching people on the street with an elaborate story: he claimed to be from Dubai, wealthy, but stranded without his wallet and urgently in need of cash. To gain trust, he offered what appeared to be expensive gold rings, chains, and watches as collateral. The items later turned out to be cheap fakes.

One local yingerman lost more than $7,000 in a single encounter.

Earlier today, the suspects tried the same tactic on another individual. This time, the intended victim contacted Shomrim to ask if the situation sounded suspicious. Knowing the suspects had been active, Shomrim volunteers were already on the lookout. They immediately took the report of the incident and advised the caller to arrange a meeting location, and alerted the NYPD.

When the suspects arrived and noticed law enforcement in the area, they attempted to flee by vehicle. Shomrim’s scooter and aviation units maintained visual contact and continuously updated the NYPD. Officers ultimately made a vehicle stop and took two individuals into custody.

Investigators believe the suspects may be connected to similar scams with losses totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.