Shomrim Warns of Aggressive Scammers Targeting Crown Heights

by CrownHeights.info

A group of aggressive scammers is targeting Crown Heights, attempting to pressure unsuspecting individuals into purchasing fake jewelry through intimidation tactics.

According to Crown Heights Shomrim, the scammers approached a Lubavitcher near Lefferts Ave and Albany Ave on Monday, calling him over to their vehicle. Once he was close, they used coercion to get him inside.

Once in the car, they bombarded him with a fabricated story, claiming they were in urgent need of money and offering expensive jewelry at a “bargain” price. They then attempted to drive him to his bank, pressuring him to withdraw cash to pay for the fake jewelry.

Fortunately, midway to the bank, the Lubavitcher regained his composure and managed to escape the vehicle, avoiding what could have been a significant financial loss. Unfortunately, he is not the only victim—others have been targeted, with some losing substantial sums to these scammers.

Crown Heights Shomrim was alerted to the incident and quickly gathered crucial information to assist the NYPD in tracking down the perpetrators.

This serves as an urgent reminder: NEVER enter a stranger’s vehicle. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable or suspicious situation, remove yourself immediately. Legitimate jewelry sales follow proper channels—no one needs to sell you luxury items on the street or from a car. If an offer seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

If you have encountered these scammers or have any information, call 911 and contact Shomrim at 718-774-3333 immediately.