The "gold bar" scam is the latest targeting seniors and others, according to the Better Business Bureau.
Posted
By Joe Ducey | Better Business Bureau
You are told your bank accounts have been hacked.
To keep your money safe, you must withdraw all of it and buy gold bars.
When the mess is cleared up, you can then sell the bars and get your money back.
It’s being called the “gold bar” scam and is taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from people around the country.
And seniors are the biggest targets.
The scam starts just like the old computer virus scams where the computer freezes.
Then there’s a popup saying the computer is infected, accounts in jeopardy and a number to call for help.
Scammers are waiting.
BBB Scamtracker shows one woman was told money in her accounts was being used for weapons dealing and she was a suspect.
She was told she needs to empty the accounts, buy gold and hand it over for safe keeping.
She lost $400,000.
Any reluctance to move the money? cammers have it covered.
Some victims get a follow-up call from the scammer now posing as a government agent.
They claim they are watching all of it, see a scam playing out, and the victim should now only trust them and the courier they will send.
A scamtracker complaint says “they picked up the gold to put in U.S. Treasury accounts. Little by little I bought gold until my savings were gone. They wanted my 401(k) money but I said no.”
The woman lost $700,000.
Protect yourself.
If your computer freezes and you get a popup about a virus and a number to call, it’s almost always a scam.
No one is watching your computer.
Never click on popups or reply.
If your computer freezes, turn it off and restart.
Also, use Windows Security or a trusted software to routinely scan your computer.
And if you have a senior in your life, let them know since they are the biggest targets.
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