WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A highly sophisticated scam has reportedly cost a Walton County resident more than $280,000 in gold bullion, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim is said to have received a call from someone claiming her Social Security number had been compromised. That individual then transferred the victim to another person posing as a federal officer, who claimed her assets were at risk and needed to be protected.
Following the scammer’s instructions, the victim initially transferred $10,600 to what she was told was the U.S. Treasury Department. She was then directed to a coin and bullion store, where she purchased more than $280,000 in gold.
The scammers reportedly coordinated a delivery of the gold, then instructed the victim to repackage it using a password provided for a supposed “undercover officer.” She was told to leave the gold in a specific vehicle at a designated location.
When the victim attempted to follow up, she discovered the contact number had been disconnected. The scammers had falsely claimed the gold would be stored in a secure U.S. Treasury vault.
“No legitimate government or law enforcement agency will ever ask you to make payments or transfer valuables using gift cards, cryptocurrency, bullion, bitcoin, or through undercover operations,” the Walton County Sheriff’s Office said.
If you receive a suspicious call, message, or email, the WCSO urges residents to hang up, ignore, or delete the message and never provide personal or financial information. Anyone who believes they have been targeted is encouraged to report the incident immediately.
The WCSO is also urging the public to spread the word, particularly to elderly or vulnerable individuals, to help prevent future scams.
For more information on scams and how to protect yourself, visit the FTC Scam Alerts page. To report a scam or request a fraud prevention presentation, contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 892-8111 or email crimeprevention@waltonso.org.
