There have been multiple recent reports on the return of the “Romanian jewelry scam.”
Back in 2019, Crimestoppers warned of this group’s activities. And now they’ve returned, and have been reported all over Oahu, as well as on the Big Island.
There were a couple of news reports broadcast last month by Hawaii News Now (“Being offered jewelry at a price too good to be true? It’s a scam“), and KITV (“Scammers selling fake jewelry bilk Oahu kupuna out of thousands of dollars“).
The Stolen Stuff Hawaii group on Facebook has also shared many reports about the group in recent months.
According to Stolen Stuff Hawaii:
They are going to great lengths to victimize our community, especially our Kupuna and non-native-English-speaking citizens. These scammers are everywhere…they are in our neighborhoods, our shopping centers, and on our streets and highways. They park in dangerous spots such as just off the highway off-ramps and alongside of the road and are flagging down motorists. They make claims such as losing their wallets, their luggage, their documents, etc. and ask if potential victims can purchase their jewelry so that they can purchase airfare or hotel rooms for their family. There are multiple groups of people doing this and they have been seen all over Oahu as well as Hilo & Kona. They are using multiple rental agencies, Turo, and even purchased vehicles here. They have been refused by two rental agencies that I know of…as their vehicles are being used as accessories to crime. There seems to be one specific rental company that is renting to them right now although I don’t want to name it.
Although HPD has put out a bulletin, very little has been done from our member’s POV to take any action against these scammers. Many victims are not reporting their incidents out of shame as well as the fact as they don’t have receipts for the exchanges, therefore they have no proof that they were scammed. It is a VERY difficult situation for our older uncles, aunties, nanas and tatas because they don’t realize they are being scammed…and by the time someone points out they were, it’s too late. The problem is bigger than what is being let on.
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Ah, the Gypsies have discovered the naive and trusting people of Hawaii as fertile grounds to prey upon.
Keep your hands on your wallets and start to view EVERYONE with suspicion from this point on, folks. Oh yeah…and if you have nice jewelry/handbags/watches…DO NOT wear them in public places like Waikiki or malls anymore. People in Europe getting killed over this stuff on a regular basis.
Blaine Fergerstrom
July 29 at 2:35 PM ·
GOLD SCAMMER:
Just now, H-1 East at Aiea, Stadium/Moanalua exit. White Mercedes SUV pulled to the side of the exit roundabout with blinkers on. 50-something guy, about 5’9”, 240 lbs. wearing a white polo shirt, gold chains and medallion, many large gold rings waves me down as if he needs help.
Comes to my window and says in thick accent, “I am from Turkey. I lost my wallet and have no money for gas.” Then he whips off a huge gold ring and starts to offer it to me.
NAH!! NO WAY!! I wave him away and drive off. Beware!!
Should have ordered a lamb shawarma from him.
Perhaps is such situations it makes sense to call 911.
If those pulled over are genuinely in distress, cops who respond can help get the appropriate help, and also make sure they don’t impede traffic.
If they are scammers, contact with police might discourage them.
Stolen Stuff Hawaii
7/31/2022
Here is a list of the Jewelry Scammers posts and sightings as of today. This extends back to early June but there are many more not listed. It’s quite overwhelming and SOMETHING needs to be done because they are terrorizing our community.
Please spread the word to your friends and family. They are out there constantly and trying to take advantage of our Kupuna and others.
Voicemail cursing out a poster:
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260291277566862/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260193730909950/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3258503311078992/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3241758299420160/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260061814256475/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260118314250825/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259070387688951/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259181927677797/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3258510351078288/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3256273547968635/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259442754318381/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259451094317547/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3255631011366222/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3258581704404486/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3257946354468021/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3257909344471722/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260174224245234/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3255598361369487/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3257905224472134/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3240846062844717/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259376870991636/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259974550931868/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3256449794617677/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3257196514543005/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3254167631512560/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3254185778177412/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3254029821526341/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3255534948042495/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3251903385072318/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3253378524924804/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3250991585163498/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260053744257282/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3251815255081131/
https://www.facebook.com/1682137797/videos/5617861971597644/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259273201002003/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260037170925606/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3260036744258982/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3256609871268336/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3259181921011131/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3250227301906593/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3256438667952123/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/stolenstuffhawaii/posts/3254052761524047/?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZWCL6iFYTNH8V7CrU_diDWGt7nAOBdITuAARXZdefr7K6eqHTC60cLIBy5wkriKhC5sFloz5J9jsP3mzTp40bLTuT06dEUgvPQI-xo_qAgtYJY6fcN_fp7dZcnFS3pcLSnEplbwvq-OhYIF1_8zUnbLUrtQcQgc0UkqrsLcdUzmmBdbGi-Lf3EarIsdK4SVpUjdMPReMygvJ1u7AMhvKnHR&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3243424785920178/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3248677432061580/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3245704309025559/
Post about the scammers hiding thousands of dollars in their rental car headliner
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3244209212508402/
Scammers hitting up stores and victimizing an elderly couple
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3241742712755052/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3240861812843142/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3242320292697294/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3240664662862857/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3240071242922199/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3241707912758532/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3238653019730688/
Successful scam…right out of the ATM
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3241559282773395/
Our June 15thwarning to the group
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3222382901357700/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3238434093085914/
https://www.facebook.com/10001864…/videos/434504691859543/
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/3226551804274143/
From 2019:
https://www.facebook.com/…/permalink/2293122254283774/
Original SSH post link:
https://www.facebook.com/stolenstuffhawaii/photos/gm.3260336770895646/5226886720741198/
In one of the news articles, Police responded that they can’t do anything if people are willingly purchasing the stuff.
So these folks operate without business licenses and pay no GET and the cops don’t care. Fair enough, they have enough on their plate. But what about all the wonderful tax enforcers in the state government??
I wonder what their visa/citizenship status is?? They don’t just come to Hawaii randomly without some kind of “host” organization that acts as a clearinghouse for everything. Likely mob related.
Look at all the gangs of Israeli hucksters you see in the malls here selling soap, Dead Sea miracle salts, etc. At least they have legit temporary work visas, as far as I know.
Thank you for covering this. In 2019, law enforcement including HPD & Sheriff’s helped to run these folks off the island. This time, there just hasn’t been that much of a response. More needs to be done to warn our community. Your help is sincerely appreciated!
In 1946 Gypsies set up tents on Territorial land at Papakolea, after being banned everywhere else. HPD had a drive to prevent gypsy fortune telling in public, yet many cases were dismissed. After being evicted from Papakolea,the Gypsies were desperate for somewhere to stay.
On the grounds that “they are American citizens and entitled to the privileges usually granted to other citizens” the park director allowed them at Hanauma Bay. 40 Gypsies camped there after paying a whopping $300 advance fee for water and potential damage to City property, and promising to leave Honolulu within weeks.
Meanwhile in Europe, Gypsies were targets for death in Hitler?s Holocaust….
Well they’re now in Arizona pulling the same scam. Just the other day a guy came to me at a gas station, took off a big gold ring begging me to help him get gas and he’d lost his wallet while he’s on vacation from a different country. I put $40 in his tank and got the fake ring. Lol