Gold bar scam victim contacts police after seeing report on WUSA9

Officials say there may be more victims in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia.

[@lothean2099]

Then make sure he's too old to spend any type of money when he gets out of jail.

[@1911Earthling]

Who would give a stranger gold for safe keeping? That’s insane.

[@nunyabitnezz2802]

Or did he just give the money to the scammer to be converted to gold? It doesn’t really say.

[@aowi7280]

Do you know your banker?

[@FordRangerClassics]

You should. Poor comment. ​@@aowi7280

[@SpaceRanger187]

@@aowi7280 right.. these people... the bank would never steal my money.

[@stevenfetzer4911]

Millions do it daily with banks.

[@user-zq4zi3dy3c]

Never never answer a cell phone number that your phone doesn't know. If no voice mail is left mark that number as spam and then block it

[@justdoingitjim7095]

Let me set something straight. "Elderly" doesn't mean "stupid" or "defenseless." Some older people aren't computer savvy or maybe they have dementia coming on. I'm 70 and I know a scam when I see one and I'm suspicious of everyone! I've built, maintained and owned many computers and I know my way around the internet, so I'm pretty computer savvy too!

[@nunyabitnezz2802]

This video did a horrible job of explaining what the scam is and how it works.

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

you're PAYING for the product - but you NEVER get the product

[@CrabbyOldLady]

They didn't explain the scam in this story. What happens is that the scammer contacts an elderly person, often in their 80s or 90s. The scammer identifies himself as a federal agent. He tells the victim that the victim's identity has been stolen. He then tells the victim that to protect his money, they should withdraw it and convert it to gold bars, and then give it to the scammer, supposedly a federal agent, for safekeeping.

[@Paul_Wetor]

Gold is probably a lot easier to carry, and people buying gold are not as red-flagged as those making big bank withdrawals in cash.

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

It should be interesting to see just how fast the justice system works in this fraud case.🤔

[@randyearles1634]

yeah, don't keep your $$ in a bank. waay to safe. deal with shady con guys, what could go wrong!

[@user-xk4vt9ye8j]

Unfortunately, banks and even the FBI have stolen people’s valuables.

[@joetuktyyuktuk8635]

Totally looks like a guy you would trust 100's of thousands of dollars with...

[@Paul_Wetor]

Don't trust anybody calling you on the phone to take out money for "safekeeping"! Once outside the bank there is no paper trail to save you. If you still feel scared, put it into another bank.

[@redacted629]

The only difference between the scammer and the bank is the level of theft. One should be mindful, regardless.

[@armageddonready4071]

What? Let’s hope that thief don’t make it out of the big house.

[@user9b2]

Convert my money into gold bars and let some stranger keep them for save keeping - why would this make sense to anybody?!

[@redacted629]

Gold "...doesn't have serial number" and "...is hard to trace" ...and, although I don't wish this this scam on anyone, shows how gold and silver is better than debtors notes for keeping your private transactions private.

[@jchung658]

This scam has been around for half of century for what I have known.

[@alexalex13131]

My guess is the only way the scammers know someone has gold bars is the people who sold them gave out that information.

[@1911Earthling]

You didn’t hear the scam properly.

[@Paul_Wetor]

Scammers tell people to convert the money to gold bars.

[@1911Earthling]

@@Paul_Wetor but why? Got to be reason. How do they convince them?

[@1911Earthling]

@@Paul_Wetor i got that they tell people to buy gold but what is the reason they tell them to do it????????

[@Paul_Wetor]

@@1911Earthling If they believe the first part of the pitch, they'll believe whatever comes next.

[@bonniegettingthrumyday2866]

There you go - boycotting buying nothing

[@AtomicEy]

I treat everyone the same hears allegedly 👎

[@philmikehunt9664]

Legalize cannabis federally

[@OmniFilm-dk8ox]

LOOK they are scamming people with Gold We should Ban Gold 🤣🤣 Seriously Glad it aint Crypto this time

[@RobertSpradling]

Here is an idea: Don't tell them that the gold bars makes it more difficult to prosecute. Giving thieves a roadmap is dumb and ignorant unless you just have no clue as a prosecutor.

[@LygerTheCLaw]

pretty much, but then again our police these days have almost no care about finding thieves. they only go after people who do much worse and even then the criminals are still let out in a few years. its up to us to protect ourselves it seems.

[@shaggydawg5419]

I'm sure criminals already know gold bars, crypto and some other payments are impossible/difficult to trace.

[@ronbennett7885]

Where's the money? Did he spend it, give it to others, etc?

[@doorguru168888]

02:16 Bill Cosby look alike.😃

[@celestialtl]

M an old fart senior and I need to buy gold bars

[@karldettling5981]

Where is the cash. Grab all his assets, he didn't throw them down the toilet.

[@Nonyabusiness911]

Don’t buy gold, it’s a scam.

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

you "can" buy gold - as long as its from a REAL place !! .... like from Macy's jewelry dept.

[@redacted629]

...and those fiat currency debtor notes printed en masse or created by a computer out of thin air in your pocket aren't?

[@Pomelu]

🤡 lol

[@theonlyjimjones]

Mr. Donovan, you need to lay off the Roids and protein.

[@AZ-nu2co]

How stupid are people?