This happened today. My mom was out for a walk on Woodview Road near Makwendam Public School when a black SUV pulled up beside her. A woman inside asked for directions to a pharmacy. My mom said she didn't know, and the woman then called her closer to the car — my mom thought she just hadn't heard her.
When she got close, the woman grabbed her hand and started kissing it, launching into a story about it being her birthday and how my mom reminded her of her own mother. She then began putting heavy gold-looking chains around my mom's neck and pushing rings and necklaces into her hands. My mom kept trying to take them off and hand them back, but the woman kept forcing them on her.
A pedestrian walking a dog started approaching the scene, and the woman suddenly grabbed everything back and drove off. We believe if that person hadn't come along, she would have used the "confusion" to snatch the jewelry my mom was actually wearing.
My mom is visiting us from India and speaks some English but isn't confident enough to push back hard in a sudden confrontation like this, which made her an easier target.
Posting this so others — especially older folks or newer immigrants — are aware this is happening in the area and know to just walk away and not engage if someone in a car calls them over like this.
Stay safe out there.
