Upon further review, San Ramon police say Amazon driver was not kidnapped

SAN RAMON — An Amazon driver who told police two people forced him to drive to a bank and pull out money was the victim of a fake jewelry scam, police said.

San Ramon police originally said it was investigating a kidnapping and robbery after responding to the Bank of America in the 3100 block of Crow Canyon Road about 4 p.m. on Nov. 18. According to police Lt. Leysy Pelayo, the driver told officers that an SUV with a man and woman inside collided with the Amazon van and that the two suspects forced him to drive to a bank and withdraw money.

Late Tuesday, Pelayo in a statement said further investigation revealed the suspects “approached the victim to commit a fake jewelry scam. Based on the language barrier, the victim believed something more nefarious was going on, so he went to the banks to withdraw money.”

Nobody was injured in the incident. Pelayo said the suspects made no apparent threats during the encounter and did not use any weapons.

Police did not give specifics as to how the scam was expected to play out.

Pelayo said police are still investigating.