From ABC7 New York · · 1m 20s
California arrests in Texas gold scam
Police say scammers posed as federal agents and pushed an elderly Texas man to turn cash into gold.
In brief
Police say scammers posed as federal agents and pushed an elderly Texas man to turn cash into gold. If callers claiming to be law enforcement demand money, gold, or secrecy, stop talking and call local police directly. Originally reported by ABC7 New York.
A scam unraveled
Friendswood police say an elderly Texas resident was targeted by a group trying to pressure him into converting large sums of money into gold.
The victim got suspicious
In August 2026, the man contacted police after calls from the suspects did not feel right. Investigators worked with him to set up a fake transaction.
One arrest at FedEx
Police traced Sukhvinder Singh of Lathrop, California, to a FedEx store where gold packages were being held. Officers arrested him as he left.
Charges topped $300,000
Galveston County charged Sukhvinder Singh with theft of over $300,000 and organized criminal activity. His bond was set at $1 million.
The calls kept coming
Even after that arrest, the victim kept getting calls. Police say spoofing technology made the calls appear to come from Friendswood police.
Two more arrested
Friendswood officers went to California on September 9 with LAPD and Riverside County deputies. Daman Singh and Mandeep Singh were arrested and await extradition.
“The professionalism, time, and effort that we were shown while in California were truly remarkable.”
What it means
If callers claiming to be law enforcement demand money, gold, or secrecy, stop talking and call local police directly.
