Montgomery County Police has shared a video of one of Detective Petty discussing the gold bar scam and other scams that police say are affecting our area (video available below).
Just this past week, police arrested a California man, Wenhui Sun, for allegedly stealing $789,000 in gold from an elderly Montgomery County woman. According to WUSA 9, one encounter between the suspect and victim occurred in a Walgreen’s parking lot, near the victim’s home at Leisure World.
In early March of 2024, the victim of the scam reported that she had been contacted by an individual who identified himself as being with the Office of the Inspector General – Federal Trade Commission. The victim was advised that she had been the victim of an identity theft which led to a federal investigation involving drugs and money laundering. The victim was then directed to transfer all assets into gold bars, which would then be retrieved by a courier who is an “FBI Agent” to take to the US Department of Treasury for safekeeping.
The victim complied with the suspect’s demands and completed two separate deliveries of gold bars to the couriers, worth over $789,000. Through the course of the investigation, detectives were able to identify Sun as the courier of the second delivery of gold bars.
On Monday, March 18, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m., Sun was arrested in Montgomery County, following an operation conducted by the Montgomery County Department of Police- Financial Crimes Unit.
"If you pick up the phone and the person on the other end says, "You are a victim of identity theft & we need you to transfer your assets into gold." Hang up the phone." MCPD's, Det. Petty discusses the "gold bar" scam affecting our area & tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. pic.twitter.com/EYvEIIX5pL
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) March 21, 2024
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