Key facts
- Scammers in New York have stolen over $100 million from seniors in two years using a gold bar scheme.
- The scam involves fake pop-up messages, remote computer access, and convincing victims to buy gold bars or coins.
- Scammers pose as law enforcement to collect the gold from victims.
- Similar scams have been reported in Hawaii, Maine, Washington DC, and Wisconsin.
- Authorities advise the public not to trust suspicious pop-ups or provide remote computer access.
New York authorities have issued a warning regarding a sophisticated scam that targets seniors by using gold bars as a means to steal money. Over the past two years, this scheme has resulted in losses exceeding $100 million, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The scam typically begins with victims receiving a deceptive pop-up message on their computer, falsely claiming their device or financial accounts have been compromised. The message prompts them to call a provided phone number. Upon calling, scammers, posing as legitimate representatives, persuade victims to grant remote access to their computers, enabling them to access sensitive financial information and online banking details.
Subsequently, individuals posing as law enforcement officers contact the victims. They inform the victims that their accounts are at risk and instruct them to withdraw their money to purchase gold bars or coins. The scammers then arrange for couriers to collect the purchased gold, advising the victims to keep the matter secret.
Attorney General James condemned the scam, stating, "Targeting older adults with seemingly legitimate claims that their life savings are in immediate danger is flat-out cruel." She urged New Yorkers to be vigilant and report any suspicious messages related to this scam.
The fraudulent activity is not confined to New York, with similar incidents reported in Hawaii, Maine, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. In one notable case in July, an 85-year-old man in D.C. was targeted via email and phone by individuals claiming to be U.S. federal agents. When the victim attempted to purchase $200,000 in gold, the dealer recognized the scam and alerted law enforcement, leading to the arrest of suspects upon their arrival to collect the gold.
Authorities are advising the public to ignore numbers from unsolicited pop-ups, texts, or emails, and to never grant remote access to their computers to unknown individuals. They also stress the importance of not transferring money from bank accounts based on phone solicitations. If a financial institution contacts a potential victim about an account issue, they should independently verify by contacting their bank directly. Individuals who believe they may have fallen victim to this scam are encouraged to report it to law enforcement.