Fake Jewelry Scam Alert

Update on 9/27/23:

Anchorage Police detectives have obtained felony arrest warrants for three individuals involved in the fake jewelry scam APD has been investigating since August.  42-year-old Alexandru Monalisa has been charged with Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device, Criminal Simulation, and False Information.  48-year-old Andrei David has been charged with Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device, Criminal Simulation, and Theft III.  34-year-old Sorin Caldararu has been charged with Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device and Criminal Simulation. 

APD believes all three have left the state; their current whereabouts are unknown.  Anyone with information regarding where they may be is asked to contact APD Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1) or 907-786-8900 (option #0).  To remain anonymous, you may submit a tip online at www.AnchorageCrimeStoppers.com. 

Law enforcement across the state of Alaska is still receiving reports of the jewelry scam in which several individuals are involved.  Please continue to report any sightings and/or interactions with these individuals to your local police department.

APD Case 23-27522

Original on 8/24/23:

Anchorage Police are aware of a jewelry scam, happening in both Anchorage and Eagle River, that has been active within the last two weeks.  The general premise is that a group of people will ask a citizen to buy their jewelry so they may use the money to get home.  The scammers claim they cannot sell the jewelry themselves because they are taken advantage of as foreigners when they try to sell in a local store.  The victim citizens learn the jewelry they bought is fake when they attempt to re-sell the jewelry.  There have been approximately one dozen victims who have fallen for the scam thus far; the total loss has been in the thousands.

The suspects have been described as well-dressed men and women who appear foreign in both their clothing and speech.  The suspects have approached citizens in parking lots; they have also been “broken down” on the side of the road and then they attempt to sell the jewelry to a good Samaritan who stops to help.  It has been reported that the suspects become verbally aggressive when the citizen refuses to buy the jewelry.  The suspects appear to use the same vehicle for a day or two before it is swapped out for a different one.

Police are asking for anyone who has been approached by the suspects (whether they gave the suspects money or not), who have not yet notified police, to do so by filling out a report online at www.AnchoragePolice.com.  If you are approached in the future by the suspects, do not engage with them, but please call Police Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1) or 907-786-8900 (option #0) and report the suspect(s) current location so that an available officer may respond.

APD Case 23-27269