Women arrested over fake gold rings scam

Five mainland women suspected of having conned people into buying fake gold rings have been arrested.

The women, aged between 24 and 41 and from Taishan, Guangdong, were detained after Hong Kong people said they had been cheated of genuine gold ornaments and cash amounting to $500,000 this month. Police seized 1,300 gold-plated rings and cash.

The women had preyed on elderly people, displaying a small tray of what they said were gold rings.

They claimed they were construction workers who had found the rings during excavation, and offered to sell them for $200 each.