Key facts
- Scammers have stolen over $100 million from seniors in the past two years.
- The scam targets seniors using a gold bar scheme.
- The scheme involves fake pop-up messages on computers.
- Scammers gain remote access to victims' computers.
- Victims are pressured to withdraw funds to purchase gold bars.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the warning.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a stern warning regarding a widespread gold bar scam that has targeted seniors, resulting in losses exceeding $100 million over the last two years. The fraudulent operation employs a multi-pronged approach, beginning with deceptive pop-up messages that appear on victims' computer screens. These messages often claim to be from legitimate companies or government agencies, luring individuals into believing their devices are compromised or that they are eligible for a refund or prize. Once a victim engages with the pop-up, scammers typically gain remote access to the victim's computer. Through this access, they manipulate the victim into believing a transaction is necessary, often involving the purchase of gold bars. The scammers then pressure the seniors to withdraw significant amounts of cash from their bank accounts to facilitate these supposed gold purchases. The Attorney General's office is actively investigating the scam and urging seniors and their families to be vigilant against such fraudulent schemes. The warning highlights the need for increased awareness and preventative measures to protect vulnerable populations from financial exploitation.