Officials: Con artists sold fake gold brick for $4,000 in Norwalk, targeted seniors in Anaheim and Paramount

Investigators said Wednesday they are seeking a pair of alleged con artists suspected of targeting elderly people in Paramount, Anaheim and Norwalk, where an 80-year-old woman was tricked into giving them $4,000 in cash for a fake gold brick.

Surveillance footage of the suspects was released on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

The most recent incident happened at a Target store in the 10600 block of Firestone Boulevard in Norwalk at about 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials said in a news release.

The suspects approached a woman and convinced her that a “gold brick” in their possession was worth $8,000. They claimed that their immigration status prevented them from selling it by regular means and offered to sell it to the victim at half price, according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The victim drove to a bank with the suspects in her car, withdrew $4,000 in cash and gave it to them, Navarro-Suarez said.

The female suspect was described as Hispanic, 40 to 50 years old and 210 pounds. Her accomplice was described as Hispanic, around 60 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall and 180 pounds.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Norwalk Sheriff’s Station Detective Hernandez at 562-466-5431 or email aahernan@lasd.org. To provide an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).