A caller says your savings are at risk — then a courier comes to collect your gold or cash
A caller impersonating the FBI, SSA, IRS, or your bank claims your accounts are compromised and you must convert your savings to gold bars or cash to "protect" them. A courier then visits your home to pick it up.
Also known as: gold bar scam, cash courier scam, precious metals liquidation scam, gold coin pickup scam, government courier scam
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Hang up. No agency will ever ask you to liquidate savings into gold or cash for safekeeping
- 2 Call a trusted family member or your real bank directly using the number on your card or statement
- 3 If a courier is at your door and you are uncertain, do not open the door — call 911
- 4 If you already sent money or gold, call your local police immediately and file a report with the FBI IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov — recovery may still be possible if you act fast
- 5 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Red flags
- ⚠ No government agency — not the FBI, FTC, SSA, or IRS — will ever tell you to buy gold bars or coins
- ⚠ A caller claims your bank account or savings are frozen, hacked, or tied to a criminal investigation
- ⚠ You are told to withdraw large amounts of cash or buy gold at a coin dealer before anyone can find out
- ⚠ A courier or stranger arranges to meet you at your home or a nearby parking lot to collect the gold or cash
- ⚠ Caller stays on the phone the entire time you are buying gold, instructing you what to say to the dealer
- ⚠ You are told to keep this secret from family members — 'for your protection'
- ⚠ Caller IDs show real government agency numbers — scammers spoof them easily
Known variants
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Caller claims the victim's bank account was used to buy illegal firearms, then transfers to a fake 'NYPD detective' or 'U.S. Marshal' demanding the victim convert savings to gold bars for 'safekeeping.' A courier collects the gold. Run from Cambodia-based scam centers staffed by trafficked workers contacting victims via WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams.
Last seen: 7/19/2026
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Scammers posing as tech support or government officials direct elderly victims to withdraw bulk cash, seal it in packages, and mail it to short-term rental addresses. No in-person courier — the postal method is harder to detect. Lead defendant in a $64M, 2,000-package scheme pleaded guilty June 30, 2026.
Last seen: 8/1/2026
Sources
- FBI Boston — FBI Boston Warns of Increase in Gold Bar and Bulk Cash Courier Scams
- IC3 PSA240129 — Scammers Use Couriers to Retrieve Cash and Precious Metals from Victims of Tech Support and Government Impersonation Scams
- DOJ EDMO — Three Accused of Defrauding the Elderly via Gold Bar Scam (Feb 2026)
- WBAY — Winnebago County woman loses more than $400K of retirement savings to gold courier scam (Jul 2026)
- FBI St. Louis — FBI warns of courier and job posting scams (Jul 2026)
- Carefulⓒ — Gold Bar Scams Are Getting Worse (2026)
- DOJ — Scam Center Strike Force Actions Against Southeast Asian Scam Centers (Jul 2026)
- ABC7 NY — Suffolk County officials warn of gold bar scam on Long Island (2026)
- DOJ SDCA — Lead Defendant and 10 Others Plead Guilty in $65 Million Multinational Fraud Ring Targeting Thousands of Seniors (Jun 30, 2026)
- Boston Globe — Former Postal Inspector Charged With Stealing $340K From Packages (Jul 31, 2026)
- ABC News — Scammers target seniors, steal $100M through gold bar scheme (Aug 2026)
- NY AG — Attorney General James Warns New Yorkers of Gold Bar Scam Targeting Seniors (Aug 2026)
- DC MPD — Suspects Arrested in Attempted Gold Bar Scam: $200K victim 85-year-old (Aug 2026)