TOMBALL, Texas – A Houston grandmother said she was forced to hand over $14,000 to a couple of crooks.
A man and a woman approached the victim inside a Walmart store on 249 near Spring-Cypress Road.
She told Local 2 they tried to sell her three fake diamonds claiming they were each worth $10,000. They told the victim she could have them all for $14,000.
"They want to make me feel sorry for them," said the woman, who asked to have her identity hidden because the crooks have not been caught.
The man told her he needed the money because his grandmother had diabetes and they needed money for her to have surgery.
"I said, 'I don't want to do this,' and they said, 'Give me the money or I'm going to kill you. We know where you live, we know where you work.'" she said.
The sad part is the victim didn't have $14,000. In fear for her life, she was forced to take out a loan.
"They said, 'When you going to have the money.' I told them Monday." She said they came back a couple of days later to collect the cash.
"The only thing that makes me feel happy is they don't kill me," she said.
Her son believes his mom was targeted.
"They target Hispanic women, older women and they know exactly what they're doing," he said.
The family called the Harris County Sheriff's Office and filed a report. The case is now under investigation.
"If police catch them I'm going to be so happy," said the victim.
Investigators told Local 2 it's important for kids to talk to their older, trusting parents about situations like this and to remind them not to talk to people they don't know.
Investigators also suggest getting involved with your parents' finances and becoming a co-signer on their accounts so they can't make big transactions without your approval.
The man and woman are described as both being in their 20s or 30s and they spoke Spanish.
The man was wearing a gold hat, a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and shoes. The woman was wearing a brown leather jacket, brown boots, sunglasses and was carrying a brown purse.
If you have any information about these two or if you are approached by them, call investigators with the Harris County Sheriff's Office at 713-221-6000.