A western Wisconsin woman lost $433,279.53 after people impersonating Apple and federal officials convinced her that converting her retirement savings into gold would protect the money from criminals.
The Prescott woman purchased gold bars and handed them to a courier during two pickups at her home.
Police later arrested Gourav Patel, the man investigators said collected the gold, but the woman said none of her money had been returned.
Much of the loss came from retirement savings accumulated during nearly 40 years of office work.
A Fake Apple Email Started the Scheme
The woman, who has not been publicly identified, received an email on her iPad that appeared to come from Apple, according to WISN 12 News. The message claimed her internet protocol address had been stolen and provided a telephone number for assistance. Because she owned an Apple phone and tablet, she believed the warning could be legitimate and called.
The supposed technology problem then became a government investigation. A man on the phone claimed to be Alvaro Bedoya, who was serving as a Federal Trade Commission commissioner at the time. He told the woman that someone had stolen her identity, accessed her financial accounts and connected her information to criminal activity.
The Callers Claimed She Was Under Federal Protection
The scammers led the woman to believe she had been placed in witness protection while federal authorities secured her accounts. They remained in frequent contact and called back quickly whenever a conversation was disconnected. Voicemails reviewed by WISN included a caller claiming to be Bedoya, although he reportedly mispronounced the official’s name.
The callers also instructed the woman to keep the supposed investigation secret. When withdrawing her money, she was allegedly told to give bank employees a false explanation, including that she was helping a family member invest in a business.
Two Gold Pickups Took $433,279
The woman withdrew money from her accounts and purchased gold bars worth a total of $433,279.53. Receipts shown to WISN included purchases of approximately $134,000 and $298,768. Much of the money came from her retirement account.
The scammers claimed federal authorities would hold the gold until the investigation ended and then return it to her. Instead, Patel traveled to the woman’s Prescott home twice and collected the bars. She said little or nothing was exchanged during the handoffs because she believed she was cooperating with officials assigned to protect her assets.
Gold Boxes Connected the Courier to Her Loss
The woman stopped following the callers’ instructions after receiving a warning from someone she believed had inside knowledge of the operation. Police later arrested Patel during a sting operation in northern Minnesota.
Investigators connected him to the Prescott case after finding boxes in his vehicle that had previously held the woman’s gold. The packages were addressed to her.
Prescott police said records showed Patel traveling through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. The available reporting identifies him as the courier who collected the gold, not as the person who sent the original email or directed the calls.
The Restitution Order Has Not Returned Her Money
Patel pleaded guilty in cases filed in Minnesota and Wisconsin. During his Pierce County sentencing, he apologized to the woman and was ordered to repay the money.
After spending 233 days in jail, Patel received probation and was deported to India, according to WISN. The woman attended his court proceedings but said she had not recovered any of the $433,279.53 covered by the restitution order.
Apple and the FTC Provide Two Immediate Checks
Apple tells customers not to follow links or call numbers supplied in suspicious messages. An email that appears to come from Apple can be forwarded to reportphishing@apple.com before the recipient responds or shares information. Someone concerned about an Apple account can open the device settings or reach Apple Support through the company’s official website rather than using contact information contained in the message.
The FTC says no government official will instruct someone to buy gold, withdraw cash or move savings to protect the money. Federal agencies do not send couriers to collect assets for safekeeping.
Receipts and Gold Records Can Help Investigators
Someone who has already purchased gold should preserve the original email, caller numbers, voicemails, messages, purchase receipts, wire records and any documents supplied by the supposed officials. Receipts or dealer records may contain bar weights, serial numbers and purchase dates that can help identify recovered gold.
Doorbell footage, vehicle descriptions, license plates and the time and location of any planned pickup should also be given to police. If another collection has been scheduled, the person should contact law enforcement rather than confronting the courier or proceeding with the handoff alone.
Reports can also be filed with the FTC through ReportFraud.ftc.gov and with the FBI through IC3.gov.