New York police seek suspect in $9m gold scam targeting pensioner

A 67-year-old Manhattan resident was allegedly tricked into handing over gold bars worth $9 million to a man who had posed as someone able to protect his finances. The case highlights how scammers can exploit fake security warnings and the difficulty of tracing stolen gold.

Police say the victim was shown a false computer alert claiming his assets had been compromised, then met the suspect at West 81st Street and Broadway in April 2025. Experts estimate the gold amounted to about 69 bars weighing roughly 150 pounds; the suspect remains at large, and the NYPD is seeking information on a grand larceny investigation.