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Fake federal agents push seniors to turn savings into gold bars for couriers to collect
Scammers posing as federal agents have persuaded older people in several US states to turn savings into gold bars, then sent couriers to collect them. The cases show how fraudsters combine online or phone deception with in-person handovers, and how victims can be coached to distrust anyone who might intervene.
In Laramie, Wyoming, an elderly woman handed over about $131,000 in gold after being urged to buy $460,000 worth; police and a coin dealer staged a fake purchase to help catch a courier, Jithin Sunny, who faces a felony theft charge. In Wisconsin, a victim was told a computer pop-up meant her savings were at risk and was instructed to buy gold; authorities arrested Dhavalkumar Dashrathgiri Bava, accused of conspiring to steal more than $100,000. The FBI describes the scheme as a sophisticated, multi-layer scam, while a cybercrime expert said organised criminal gangs operate it.
In short
- Fake agents are using gold couriers to target older people.
- A Wyoming woman handed over about $131,000 in gold.
- Police caught couriers in Wyoming and Wisconsin.
Explained simply
Scammers impersonate federal officials and claim a person’s money is in danger. They may keep in touch by phone or online, direct the person to buy gold, then arrange for a courier to collect it. Gold can be easier to pass on than cash, and the handover may make the fraud harder to spot.
The FBI says these scams can involve several stages and people. Older adults may be targeted and coached to keep the matter secret or distrust anyone who questions the instructions. The cases involve allegations against individuals accused of collecting gold or helping to steal it. Their significance is that online deception can lead to a face-to-face handover of someone’s savings.