The suspect has been charged with obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit a felony.
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a Maryland man accused of attempting to con senior citizens in a gold bar scam on Wednesday.
The scheme
According to the sheriff’s office, Junjie Wu, 29, has been charged in connection with a scheme that used gold bars to defraud elderly victims.
The investigation into the scheme began after investigators received reports from victims stating that they had received messages on their computers claiming that their device had been “compromised” and that they needed to call “Apple Support.”
When the victims called the number given to them in the messages, they were connected to the scammers, who were posing as “fraud investigators.”
These individuals then told the victims that their investment accounts were at risk and that they needed to move their funds to a new account with the Federal Reserve System.
After that, the victims were told that they had to convert their funds into gold bars to complete the transaction and secure their accounts.
Following its investigation, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office charged Wu with obtaining money by false pretenses, conspiracy to commit a felony and wearing a mask in public. He is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.
How to avoid scams
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to remember:
No government agency will ever ask you to buy gold, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to “protect” your money. The Federal Reserve does not hold personal accounts, and no real agency directs you to move funds to a “safe” account.
Pop-up warnings claiming your device is hacked are fake. Don’t call the number, click links, or allow remote access to your computer.
Be wary of urgency and secrecy. Scammers create panic and tell victims to keep quiet. Hang up and call the agency back using a number from its official website.
Talk to someone you trust before sending money or making a large, unusual purchase — and never hand over cash or valuables to a stranger in person.
Anyone with information related to this incident, or who may have been a victim of this scam or a similar one is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at (703) 777-1021. To submit an anonymous tip, contact Loudoun County Crime Solvers at (703) 777-1919.
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