State police say Romanian ‘transnational criminials’ operating in Pa.

Warn about jewelry scams, distraction thefts and more

Authorities say criminals from Romania have been fleecing people with fake jewelry, fitting gas station card readers with skimming devices, snatching cellphones and otherwise breaking the law in Pennsylvania of late.

In a community awareness bulletin issued Thursday, Pennsylvania state police said the culprits — often described as looking Middle Eastern or Hispanic — will sometimes pose as stranded motorists in need of cash and offer to sell 18-karat gold jewelry to people who stop to help. The jewelry, stamped 18k, turns out to be counterfeit.

Others will approach people in casinos or elsewhere with hardluck stories — needing cash to get to a funeral, or home to Florida, or to feed a hungry child. Often they will overwhelm someone with close contact and steal their jewelry.

The scammers often travel with their families in high-end out-ofstate vehicles and won’t stay in one area for long, the bulletin says. Police offer the following tips:

Never feel pressured to buy jewelry or any other item, even if the story you hear is convincing. The jewelry is most likely fake.

Never go to an ATM with a stranger to withdraw cash.

If you see stranded motorists waving for help, call law enforcement and don’t approach them.

Be aware of tampering at selfcheck registers and gas pumps. Signs that the machine may be equipped with a skimmer include buttons that are hard to press or misaligned screen graphics.

Monitor your bank account for suspicious transactions.

The free “See Something, Say Something” app can be used to report suspicious activity. Tips can also be emailed to tips@pa.gov.