Overview
- County officials issued a public warning on Monday, July 13, describing the scam pattern and urging residents to hang up and call their bank and the police.
- Detectives say roughly a dozen Suffolk County seniors have been targeted over the past year and police intervened in at least one case that nearly cost a woman about $140,000.
- Investigators describe a playbook of spoofed phone numbers, texts, voicemails and computer pop‑ups that impersonate banks, government agencies or tech support and instruct victims to convert savings into gold.
- Local dealers and banks are flagging suspicious large purchases, contacting police to stop transactions, and supporting proposed safeguards such as in‑store warning posters, a 48‑hour hold on buys over $50,000, and screening questions for buyers aged 60 and older.
- Authorities say the scam appears linked to organized rings that can operate across borders and warn high gold prices make the tactic more tempting, with arrests expected as investigations continue.