Greg's Corner

Gold Bar Scam Is Still a Risk

By Greg Collier

Although reports of the gold bar scam have become less frequent in recent months, this does not mean the scam has vanished. On the contrary, these types of schemes continue to claim new victims across the country, often targeting older adults and those unfamiliar with the tactics scammers use to manipulate their targets.

A recent case out of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, highlights the ongoing danger. A man from New York allegedly stole over half a million dollars in gold bars from a local resident after convincing the victim their finances were under threat. The scam began with remote access to the victim’s computer, followed by claims that their bank accounts were at risk. The scammers pressured the victim to convert their savings into gold and then hand it over to individuals posing as federal employees. The gold, of course, was never protected; it was stolen.

The reason gold remains a key element in these schemes is simple. Gold is valuable, portable, and difficult to trace once in the hands of a criminal. It can be melted down, sold overseas, or moved through shadowy markets without leaving a digital footprint. For scammers, gold offers an attractive alternative to traditional wire fraud and digital theft.

Despite law enforcement efforts and public warnings, scammers continue to use fear and urgency to push victims into making hasty financial decisions. These schemes often involve impersonating trusted institutions, such as government agencies or financial services. The underlying message is always the same. Your money is in danger, and the only way to save it is to move it, typically into a form that the scammers can easily steal.

Anyone who tells you to “move” your money for safekeeping, especially into gold, is not trying to protect you. They are trying to steal from you. No legitimate agency or institution will ever ask you to buy gold, withdraw large sums of cash, or hand over your assets to a stranger who shows up at your door.

The key to avoiding these scams lies in staying calm, verifying information through official channels, and never acting on financial instructions from unsolicited calls or messages. The gold bar scam may not dominate the headlines like it once did, but it remains a very real and evolving threat.