News Releases

Victims Lose $300,000 in Fake Gold Scam; Surveillance Photograph of Suspect Released

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Financial Crimes Section are investigating the report of a scam involving a suspect who sold the victims fake gold (it was actually copper).  Today, detectives are releasing a photograph of the suspect and asking for the public’s help in identifying him.

The investigation by MCP Financial Crimes Section detectives determined that in late August, one of the adult male victims, who owns a gold store outside of the United States, was contacted by a known acquaintance asking if he would be interested in purchasing a large quantity of gold from an individual known as “Mike” who resides in Gaithersburg.  The first victim then contacted a friend who was also interested in purchasing gold, and the two contacted the suspect and agreed to meet with him at a Gaithersburg hotel.

On August 20, the victims met with “Mike” at a Gaithersburg hotel.  The victims accompanied “Mike” to the third floor of a public storage unit located on Christopher Avenue where “Mike” showed the victims a box which he stated contained a large quantity of gold.  The suspect told the victims that they could remove a small sample of the gold to have it tested.  After the victims removed the sample, the suspect sealed the box and said that no one could tamper with the box.   That afternoon, the victims tested the sample gold at an independent facility who determined that the sample was gold.

On August 21, the victims met the suspect at the same storage facility. The victims, who observed the box in the storage unit, paid the suspect $300,000 for the gold.  The victims left the facility with the box.  The victims then had the contents of the box tested and were told that the material in the box was copper and not gold.   They then reported the scam to police.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this scam is asked to call the Financial Crimes Section at 240-773-6330. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case.

RLG

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Release ID: 18-381
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: scam, uncategorized