Courtesy | West Valley Police Department. Police in West Valley City believe this unidentified woman is one of two suspects in two fake diamond scams that have been reported in Orem and West Valley City in the past month.

Two women who used a story about a tragic car accident to sucker another woman out of thousands of dollars seem to be taking their scam on the road, according to West Valley City Police.

On Feb. 16, a woman shopping in the area of 3100 South and 5600 West was approached by the female duo, who told “an elaborate but convincing” story about a traffic accident involving one of their families, according to Sgt. Jason Hauer.

The women convinced the victim to give them $5,000 for what they said was a diamond under the pretense that she was helping them raise money for medical expenses. She also was promised that she would get back $14,000 later that day.

It wasn’t until after the victim gave them her money that she became suspicious and learned the purported diamond was a fake, Hauer said.

West Valley police believe the scam is nearly identical to one reported last week by police in Orem. According to surveillance footage obtained by West Valley law enforcement, the suspects match the description of the women in the Orem case.

The women are described as Hispanic. Surveillance footage shows one of them wearing glasses with black hair that has streaks of light-colored dye.

Anyone with information about the two women is encouraged to call West Valley City Police at 801-840-4000.

kbennion@sltrib.com

Twitter: @KimballBennion