Couple Nabbed For Allegedly Trying To Sell Phony Silver Bars On Craigslist
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Two people are accused of trying to sell phony bars of silver in Jefferson County, and now investigators think there may be more victims.
The suspects were arrested after a man answered a Craigslist ad offering 100 silver bars for $1,500 -- well below market value. The seller claimed to be pregnant and need the money, the bars were a gift from her grandmother.
The buyer, wishing to remain unnamed, met with Hannah Vergos in the parking lot of a Walmart on West Bowles Avenue. He bought five bars for $100, with the promise of buying the other bars later.
After the transaction, the man walked in to a World of Coins in Littleton to get a confirmation from Dan Murphy, who said, "I couldn't necessarily tell if it was fake or real."
"We weighed one of the bars and it weighed heavy. It's enough of a red flag for us to have it tested," said Murphy.
An acid test proved the bars were bogus. Murphy described, "It fizzed green which means it's fake."
The victim didn't stop there. As Mark Techmeyer from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said, "this citizen was pretty clever and used his wits. He called her back and said I'd like to buy those other 95, let's meet back at Walmart again. He hung up and then immediately called the sheriff's office."
When Vergos and Casey Wilder showed up at Walmart, they were arrested for felony theft.
Investigators later found cash, more phony silver bars and a ledger leading them to believe there are more victims.
Additional Information From The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office believes there may be more victims. Anyone with information regarding these crimes is asked to call the tip line at 303-271-5612.