The The price of gold has increased During the past week, which can give fraudsters more opportunities to deceive their victims.
The fraud of the golden lane sounds like no one that could not fall, but it happened. The scheme includes sacrifices, usually older citizens, sinking their life savings in gold, silver or any other precious metal to protect their assets after being convinced to do so by an artist.
If the fraudster gains your confidence, it may seem like a good idea to follow their tips and invest in gold, a precious metal that is usually a healthy investment in times of economic uncertainty. But as soon as the victim entrusts the golden rod to the storage fraud – surprise – the fraudster has never been heard again.
The golden bars with the bar are on the rise. FBI first warned of increase these frauds in January 2024, but their popularity has grown.
The FBI issued another warning Last summer, specifically, warning residents in the Sarasota County, Florida, amid complaints that golden bar frauds have deceived seniors from more than $ 300,000. Coincidentally Cases that appear up by the end of 2024. This year, the Golden Bar scams have smoothed the victims in Portland, OregonAnd Newuork.
What is the fraud of the golden bar?
Golden bar scams generally work like this: The bad actor will construct a detailed story and disclose the government official, perhaps from the FBI or the Ministry of Finance, to convince someone that their money is not safe in the bank.
Crime will urge the victim to remove their money from their Saving account And invest it in gold. If they listen, or will find a local gold trader or Order it online. Then the victim will meet with the fraudster as a courier who will take the gold, promising to deliver it to a safer location. They can even give confirmation to the victim. However, the courier will be released with gold instead.
Why are criminals turning to gold bar fraud?
Cheaters have focused on gold lately for several reasons: gold is valuable goods and it is difficult to follow. People are also easier to break through than the bank's security system.
Technical companies and banks make it difficult for consumer accounts to get viruses or hack, according to Robert Siciliano, security analyst and author of identity theft theft: security protection and fraud prevention.
“The security of the information is the best ever,” Siciliano said, “and the most effective way to get all this security is, of course, to break people.”
Gold has a reputation that is valuable
Similar to how other investment vehicles can vary in price, So does the gold. Although it is going well right now, this may not always be the case. However, criminals know has money to make gold.
“With gold (sales) as much as $ 3,000 an ounce, it has never been more attractive for fraudsters to step up and get involved in approaching with a rifle and the target mass population with this particular Rouge,” Siciliano said.
He added that 98% of people would not be drawn to talk to an artist about transferring their money to gold, but if 2% of people targeted, talk about the cheat, that's all it takes to be a profitable fraud.
People believe in gold
People do not always believe in the economy, but they tend to trust gold.
“Since the value of assets such as precious metals, like gold, is experiencing rapidly increasing value and attracts widespread attention, fraudsters will jump on the trend and use it in their favor,” said Darius Kingsley, Manager and Head of Consumer Banking Practices. “Gold is often sought as hedges against economic instability or inflation.”
Gold is essentially impossible to trace
Golden rods have serial numbers, but it is impossible to say where the metal originated from once to melt. Since you are a criminal trying to sell stolen works of art or car, if the police catch you, it is relatively easy to find that something fish is happening.
Gold has power over our fantasy
In school you learned about tThat golden fever of 1849. If you are a fan of the Jamesesheims Bond, you may be familiar with the Goldfinger movie and how the villain planned to steal Gold from Fort Knox. TV -ads often press gold as a healthy, secure investment.
If a criminal convinced you that it Your bank account is uncertainIt makes sense that they would suggest gold than to persuade someone to invest their savings in life Rodium. Gold is known and sounds like a logical investment.
How to avoid fraud with golden rods
It is important to remember that if one offers unwanted tips for making money from your bank and put it elsewhere, you need to be on your guard. It is very unlikely that the government official will give you this advice. Pay attention to your intuition. If you feel that something can be excluded, it is probably.
If your trusted bank associate raises concerns about the legitimacy of your withdrawal, listen to them. They are trained to pay attention to suspicious transactions. While they can't stop you from pulling out the money, they can tell you if the reasons for the withdrawal sound strange.
If you take out your money, banks and credit unions could not repay the money, according to Ennenifer Halenbeck, collection and fraud manager in Wasatch Peaks Credit Union.
What to do if you fell for gold lane fraud
Unfortunately, the recovery of lost assets with this type of fraud is unlikely. However, that does not mean that there is nothing you can do.
Call the police immediately. If you have met Kurir or have a courier to take gold from your home, the thief can still last in the area or there may be evidence that the police could collect them.
Contact your bank. Until your bank is needed to make up for you if you take the money yourself, tell them that fraud can help them raise awareness. Now, if your bank has been robbed, whether it's a masked gunman or a cyberhacker, you will return the money. That's why the banks are FDIK insured And theft as it is not the client's fault. But in the case of gold rod fraud, you were cheated on being a robber.
Halenbeck said it is still a good idea to call your bank or credit union if you are cheated. They usually report to the FBI on behalf of their members. The bank can also take additional precautions, such as freezing your account or warned to prevent future fraud.
Contact these government agencies. The Federal Commission for Trade He always wants to hear from people who are unhappy victims of fraud. FBI Center for Internet Crime Complaints It's also a great resource, and they may, with the police, may want to get involved in your case. Yours Cabinet of State Public Prosecutor You will probably appreciate the hearing about your condition.