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Mon, Apr 14, 2025, 2:32 AM 5 min read
In a heartbreaking scam that’s left a Naples couple reeling, two fraudsters tricked the 72-year-old couple into handing over more than $2 million worth of gold.
The ordeal has left the elderly couple shattered. The gold is nearly impossible to trace, making it unlikely they will get their stolen assets back.
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“They took money from their accounts and purchased gold,” Lt. Bryan McGinn of the Naples Police Department explained to Gulfcoast News Now, “Once they had the gold, the fraudsters sent a courier to pick it up, telling the victims that the gold would be safely stored and eventually returned to them.”
For several months, the couple was under the impression that the gold was being safely held and stored. Later, they discovered they had been duped and contacted local authorities for help. By then, the fraudsters had vanished with their precious assets.
According to McGinn, the scam began when the couple was contacted multiple times by the fraudsters.
The scammers claimed they had a warrant for the couple’s arrest and threatened they would be detained unless they purchased gold and handed it over. They were instructed to buy gold in coins or small bars, with the promise that it would be safely stored and returned later.
Authorities intercepted Soyeb Rana, one of the suspects, as he arrived to pick up gold from the couple. He faces several charges, including conspiracy, scheme to defraud, fleeing and eluding, and possession of marijuana.
“This is a sad situation,” McGinn said, offering advice to others who might find themselves in similar circumstances. “Law enforcement is never going to request money. There's never going to be an exchange of assets for your freedom or anything like that in this country. Just take a second, take a breath, contact local law enforcement. And we don’t mind figuring out together whether something is legitimate or not.”
The arrest is a step forward in the case, but the recovery of the gold remains unlikely.
With precious metals frauds like this on the rise, here are some tips to keep your assets protected.
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