A warning from the Nassau County District Attorney about jewelry swap scams.
The DA’s office says there has been a recent increase in these kind of distraction crimes in the county.
The thieves have been targeting older women in the Floral Park and New Hyde Park areas.
In these sleight-of-hand incidents, a victim is approached by an individual outside of their home, who then strikes up a friendly conversation, eventually offering gifts of jewelry, authorities say.
During the interaction, the alleged scammer will swap a piece of real jewelry on the victim’s neck or wrist and replace it with the fake item they brought.
Law enforcement officials say you should always be aware of your surroundings, keep jewelry hidden, and report any suspicious activities such as these to police.