A second elderly Friendswood resident has been targeted in a government impersonation scam after a caller convinced her that her family’s financial information had been compromised.
The investigation led police to Rajdeep Singh of California, who authorities accuse of acting as the courier sent to collect the victim’s gold. According to FOX 26 Houston, Friendswood officers located Singh in Fort Bend County with assistance from Meadows Place police and arrested him September 16.
The woman had been communicating since August with someone falsely claiming to be a federal agent. Investigators say the caller told her that her Social Security information and her husband’s had been compromised and that she needed to move assets to protect them.
Singh is charged with theft of property valued between $150,000 and $300,000, enhanced because the victim is elderly. His bond was set at $5 million, and an immigration detainer was placed on him. The charge is an accusation, and Singh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Demands Began With $25,000 in Gift Cards
Police say the caller first instructed the woman to purchase $25,000 in gift cards and provide the card information.
The scheme then escalated to physical precious metals. The victim was directed to convert approximately $185,000 into gold bars under the false claim that doing so would shield the money from the supposed compromise of the couple’s personal information.
On September 10, she met with a courier she believed was connected to the federal government and handed over the gold. Investigators later identified Singh as the person who allegedly collected it.
Her Family Recognized the Warning Signs From Another Local Case
The investigation began September 15 after the woman’s relatives noticed suspicious phone calls and financial transactions.
Family members had also seen a recent Friendswood Police Department news release about another elderly resident targeted through a gold scam. That warning prompted them to question what was happening and encourage the woman to contact police.
The September 10 handoff occurred while Friendswood detectives were in California making arrests connected to the separate investigation.
Police Found the Alleged Courier in Fort Bend County
After reviewing the woman’s account of the handoff, investigators worked to identify the person they believed had collected the precious metals.
Friendswood police, working with the Meadows Place Police Department, located Singh six days after the exchange and took him into custody.
Investigators believe he may have met with additional victims in the Houston area during the previous four weeks. Police released his photograph and vehicle information and asked anyone who recognizes him to contact the Friendswood Police Department at 281-996-3300.
Police Chief Josh Rogers said the department believes organized groups are continuing to target elderly residents and that investigators are pursuing additional leads.
Couriers Have Collected Millions in Cash and Gold
The FBI has warned about fraud operations that combine government impersonation, tech support or other fabricated emergencies with couriers sent to collect cash or precious metals.
From 2023 through May 2025, the bureau documented at least 1,737 incidents nationwide involving couriers collecting bulk cash or gold, with approximately $186 million in reported losses.
Scammers may give victims passwords, serial numbers or other identifiers that the arriving courier supposedly must provide. Those details are designed to make the exchange appear legitimate and do not verify that the person collecting the assets represents a government agency.
Federal Agents Will Not Tell You to Buy Gold for Safekeeping
The Federal Trade Commission warns that real government officials will not instruct someone to buy gold, withdraw cash or move savings to supposedly protect the money from fraud or seizure.
The FTC also says no legitimate government agency will demand payment through gift cards. Someone who receives such instructions should end the communication and independently contact the agency using information obtained from its official website.
Family members who notice sudden large withdrawals or unusual purchases can ask what prompted the transaction before additional assets leave the person’s control. Scammers may discourage victims from discussing the situation with relatives, financial institutions or law enforcement.
Anyone who has already prepared cash or precious metals for a pickup should stop the handoff and contact local police. Telephone numbers, messages, receipts, gold dealer records, courier descriptions and other documentation should be preserved for investigators.