An elderly woman was cheated out of her money.
Neel Patel (Photo from Montgomery County Police)
Gaithersburg, Md (KM) Montgomery County Police are investigating another gold bar scam. They’ve arrested Neel Patel, 23, of Carol Stream, Illinois, for allegedly targeting elderly individuals.
In early March, 2024, a victim reported to police she had been contacted by an individual who claimed to be with the Office of the Inspector General for Federal Trade Commission. That person told the elderly woman that she had been the victim of identity theft, and that led to a federal investigation of money laundering. The victim was told to put all of her assets into gold bars which would be picked by a courier who he said was an “FBI agent.” The gold bars would taken to the US Department of the Treasury for safekeeping.
The victim complied and completed two separate deliveries of gold bars worth over $789.000.
Patel was identified as the courier, and he was arrested on July 23rd at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport as he was attempting to board a flight to Dublin, Ireland.
He was extradited back to Maryland where. he is currently being held at the Montgomery County Processing Unit.
Police remind citizens that law enforcement will never attempt to contact you in this manner.
For additional information regarding frauds and scams or to learn how to report a situation, please visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/fraud/financial-crimes-section.html.
By Kevin McManus