Another scam in the valley has victimized a local woman who says she's out more than $5,000 for diamonds. 

The woman, who wished not to be identified, says multiple people were involved in a scheme for her to buy "newly acquired" diamonds.

She says should have been the owner of a $10,000- diamond but ended with nothing.

By Stella Inger found at NewsChannel 3 Aug 27, 2007 

It all started in a shopping center parking lot where a "very nice" woman approached her.

The victim said the woman apparently found some diamonds but didn't know what to do with them.

"What she wanted from me was to find the owners of the diamonds, return the stuff, and supposedly get some reward for it," the victim said.

As the two are talking, a man, she says, interrupted their conversation, finds out about the diamonds, and suddenly knows someone who might want to buy one.

"He said that his boss is a jeweler and that he would show the diamonds to his boss,

"He takes one diamond and he disappears for 5 to 10 minutes. He comes back with a piece of paper and says diamond at 5 karats is worth $10,000 each."

The victim says the man gave the woman with the diamonds $5,000 for one. He then convinced the victim to buy one as well.

"I took money out of my account and handed it to these people I didn't even know."

When the diamond was later appraised, she said, it was worth nothing.

Unfortunately, law enforcement officers say, it's a scam that keeps happening and can be very convincing.           

Police say if you do buy an item on the street and it's stolen, you could be charged with possession of stolen property.

They say the best advice is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.