Victim finds all that glitter not gold

A 36-year-old Elgin woman thought she caught a deal Aug. 15, paying $4,800 for a gold bar worth $20,000.

And she was helping someone's sick relative to boot.

As unbelievable deals usually are, this one was too good to be true.

The bar was made of lead, and simply painted gold.

The woman was shopping Wednesday on South McLean Boulevard when two men approached her.

They said their uncle was in a car accident three months ago and wanted to go back to Mexico so he could recuperate with his family.

He had spent all his money on medical bills and was selling off his property so he could make the trip.

They showed her a gold bar about 1 inch by 1 inch by 2 inches that they said had been appraised at $20,000.

They said they would accept $10,000 for the bar and if she didn't have all the money that day, she could bring the rest to them the next day.

They all went to her bank where she withdrew $4,800.

After they left with her money, she took the bar to her jeweler, who said it was a lead bar painted gold and was worthless.

She went back to the store the next day, but the two men never showed up.

Elgin police say this latest scam is concentrated in the Latino community. They ask anyone with information about the scam to call (847) 289-2700 or the anonymous tip line at (847) 695-4195.