Grahamstown police are investigating a case docket involving a man who was tricked by three apparent fraudsters.
Grahamstown police are investigating a case docket involving a man who was tricked by three apparent fraudsters.
Crime Intelligence Officer Captain Milanda Coetzer said the first man stopped the man on Beaufort Street and asked him to give him a lift to Pick n Pay.
She said a conversation ensued between the two and the suspect showed the man some stones in a bag.
"The man indicated that the stones were diamonds and that they cost him R3 000. He said two of his friends would be atPepper Grove Mall, where they were meeting a man who had oil for polishing the stones.
"The victim transported this suspect and collected two other men and they started talking about the good investment he can make into similar stones. Eventually the victim parted with several thousand rand to buy into the venture.
"The final twist to the tale came when the victim was told to give the men his cellphones in order that they can make contact with the man with the oil who was waiting at Pepper Grove Mall.
"After a short while the victim realised that he had been tricked and reported the matter to the police," said Coetzer.
She said this was not the first such incident to be reported. In 2011 an incident involving stones purported to be diamonds were in fact sapphires.
The police said Peppergrove Mall was generally the site where either a white male or a white female would wait with the supposedly expensive oil and produce precious stones.
Police in Grahamstown have warned people to be aware of confidence tricksters.
