The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department says a couple was recently conned out of more than $115,000 after they were told to convert their cash into gold bars. Chief Deputy Ben Houchin says it began March 29th when the couple’s computer shut down and there was a malware issue.
Houchin says a phone number then appeared on their computer screen. “The couple called the number and an individual told them they had been frauded $5,000 and the FBI was looking into them for child pornography.
Houchin says the 71-year-old woman and 68-year-old man received other calls over the next few days. “The caller convinced the couple to withdraw $115,800 from their bank account and use the money to purchase gold bars from a local business.”
Houchin says they were then told to put the gold bars into a cardboard box and a man would pick it up and take it to Washington D.C. and put it into a bank account that was safe. He says a man in a full-size, newer silver Ford Explorer showed up at their house, got the box and then left.
“It is very unusual that a person actually shows up at a residence and takes the money,” Houchin says. He added that this is the largest fraud case that they have investigated in 2024.