Man charged in connection to fake jewelry scam: Winnipeg police
Posted August 6, 2025 5:25 pm.
Winnipeg police say a 36-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fake jewelry scam across the city.
WPS says over recent months, they’ve been investigating a series of fake jewelry scams and distraction thefts, where it was believed that suspects are known for using realistic counterfeit jewelry and frequently switching vehicles to avoid detection.
Police learned that around 2:30 p.m. on June 26, a man was parked along Regent Avenue West when he was approached by another man with a young child.
While talking, the man with the child told a story about needing money for travel — which police say is a common ruse used in the scam — and this led to jewelry being purchased by the man in the parked vehicle.
A short time later, that man discovered that the jewelry was fake, and he contacted police.
As the investigation continued, police were able to identify a man believed to be connected to the scam, and on Aug. 4, 36-year-old Catalin Feraru was taken into custody in Portage la Prairie.
Feraru has since been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and fraud over $5,000.
