The call that sounded official

A man phoned an elderly Frisco woman claiming someone in Ohio was running up her credit card on baby toys, and that accounts had been opened in her name to launder money.

“He comes on, and he says that he is the head of the fraud division of the Social Security Administration in Washington.”

Paperwork sealed the trust

He sent documents claiming he worked with the U.S. government and would keep her savings safe. She handed over $30,000.

“And he's very official, very smart, intelligent.”

A bank manager stepped in

When the scammer pushed for another $22,000 from a second bank, the manager who handled the withdrawal told her plainly that she was being scammed.

The counterfeit handoff

She filed a report with Frisco Police, who gave her a box of fake money to pass to the scammer's courier. Officers were waiting when he took it.

“I hand him the box with the money in it, and I see who it is, and he says, "Blue!" and drives off, and the police catch him.”

A $250 million machine

She is one of more than 200 victims. Scammers posing as federal agents told seniors to empty accounts and hand cash and gold to couriers.

Melted down and sent overseas

The stolen gold was melted into jewelry and the cash became cryptocurrency funneled out of the country. Investigators have seized over $130 million in gold.

Arrests, and one death

Muzamil Ahmed, 35, was caught at JFK on September 4 trying to leave the country. Tarrant County DA Phil Sorrells says one victim lost his life savings and later died by suicide.

“Law enforcement will never call you and tell you to buy gold or withdraw cash or purchase things like cryptocurrency for safety.”