Ohio Woman Loses Nearly $2 Million in Gold to Scammers
After her computer screen went dark, the victim called a fake support number and lost her fortune by converting it into gold coins instead of crypto and cash.
An Ohio resident fell victim to scammers after her computer screen went dark, prompting her to call a fake tech support line and subsequently individuals posing as authorities. Under the pretext of protecting her funds, the victim converted over $1.8 million of her assets into gold coins and handed them over to couriers.
The Process That Began with a Black Screen
The female victim from Ohio stated in her report to the police that the scam began while she was browsing Facebook and her computer screen suddenly went dark.
After the screen went dark, a message appeared on the screen stating that a Microsoft helpline needed to be called, along with a specific phone number.
Fake Microsoft and Federal Trade Commission Lies
When the woman called the number on the screen, she was greeted by an English-speaking woman with an unclear accent.
The person on the phone told the woman that her identity had been stolen and transferred her to a male individual claiming to be an official from the Federal Trade Commission.
Conversion of Cash into Gold Coins
The suspect, posing as a government official, argued that the victim needed to convert all her cash assets into gold coins to protect her money.
Following this instruction, the woman converted more than $100,000 in cash into gold coins and began following the specified procedures.
Delivery Meetings Outside Walmart
Instructed to put the gold in a box, the woman met face-to-face with a person posing as an officer outside a Walmart in Boardman.
The suspect provided a password during the meeting and claimed the money would be secured on behalf of the Treasury Department.
The Story of How the Scam Was Uncovered
The victim communicated with the scammers every day and made multiple gold deliveries, with her total losses exceeding $1.8 million.
She learned that she had been scammed when a detective from Moline, Illinois, called her to inform her that her name was found in an inmate's ledger.
Rising Gold Courier Scams Nationwide
The FBI, the New York Attorney General's Office, and local police departments are warning citizens against this type of scam, which has gained popularity in recent years.
Targeting individuals particularly over the age of 60, these organized scam networks use couriers to physically collect physical wealth in person.
Warnings to Citizens from Authorities and the FBI
Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, stated that scammers target the assets of elderly individuals and emphasized that families need to be warned about this issue.
The agency reminded the public that no government agency or legitimate business would ever ask citizens to buy gold or precious metals.