RCMP looking for group who robbed Sask. man after trying to sell him gold at gas station

RCMP say they are looking for four people who robbed a man at a gas station in Chamberlain, Sask., after trying to sell him "gold or other items."

The Mounties said the man was approached by the group of people he didn't know at about 10 p.m. CST on Thursday. Chamberlain is about 90 kilometres northwest of Regina.

Police say that when the man refused to buy, the assailants forced him to withdraw money from an ATM, threatened him and stole his money before driving off in a grey or silver Dodge Durango.

CBC has confirmed that the robbery happened at Gas Plus. 

RCMP said the man was not hurt in the robbery.

The four suspects are described as a man with a beard who was wearing shorts and a Rolex-branded watch, a heavyset man, a younger woman and an older woman. 

Police say the suspects could be armed and dangerous, so they shouldn't be approached. Anyone who sees them or the grey or silver Dodge Durango is asked to call 911 or Saskatchewan RCMP (306-310-7267) immediately.

'Gold scam' very common: Regina pawnshop

While RCMP couldn't confirm this was exactly what happened, the incident bears all the hallmarks of a common "gold scam" that has cropped up across North America, most recently in Winnipeg. 

Kristina Jankowski, co-owner of Cash Avenue Pawn in Regina, told CBC the store regularly sees people who have been scammed in this way. 

"Surprisingly, it happens quite a bit more often than we like to see," said Jankowski. 

"We see it probably weekly here, people coming through with what they think is usually 18-karat gold. And a lot of the pieces, it's usually rings and chains, pretty much all look very similar to the other ones coming in."

After seeing it so often, Jankowski said the store can usually tell by the design of the item that the person has been scammed.

"Usually the gold they bring in is worthless to us just because it's not actually gold. It's basically just glorified costume jewelry."

She said the scams most often occur in the warmer months, as people are out and about more and enjoying themselves on the road.

"We do hear quite a few people with very similar stories saying somebody asked for help, usually with gas money, and they're offering them gold in exchange for some money just to help them out."

Jankowski said those who make the trade are usually "trying to be a Good Samaritan."

She said that many of the people who come into Cash Avenue Pawn with what they believe to be gold are older in age. But the store has seen many different people scammed. 

"Sometimes they're out, like, hundreds of dollars," she said. "They think they're getting a really good deal. But if it's, I guess, too good to be true, it usually is. Basically it's just brass shined up to make it look pretty." 

Jankowski said the man who refused to buy "gold or other items" from the four people at the Chamberlain gas station Thursday night has a familiar story. 

"From the stories we hear, it happens a lot in parking lots and gas stations where people will approach them and usually with the same story of they need help getting home, they need help with something and they're going to offer you gold."

When Cash Avenue Pawn sees fake gold brought in by people who have been scammed, it typically warns other people through word of mouth and social media. Jankowski encourages people to be extra vigilant about spotting the gold scam. 

"It sucks. A lot of people want to help. But just, maybe, don't."

CBC reached out to Saskatchewan RCMP for a comment, and was told one would not be available until Tuesday.