PAYSON, AZ (AZFamily) — Two California residents are in custody after being caught in a scam that led to a Payson resident losing a “large quantity” of gold.
The Payson Police Department arrested Harshdeep Singh, 20, and Katrina Gonzales, 18, both residents of Fresno, California, on charges of fraudulent schemes after showing up to pick up gold in an alleged scam that started sometime in 2025.
Police say scammers, likely neither of the two people arrested, contacted the Payson resident and claimed to be government representatives.
The scammers reportedly told the woman that her identity had been stolen and said she needed to buy gold and hand it over to their “agents” to protect her remaining assets while they investigated her identity theft.
In January, the scammers sent couriers, also known as money mules, to pick up the victim’s gold. Once scammers obtain a victim’s assets, they are typically shipped overseas or laundered.
After the exchange, the victim grew suspicious and contacted law enforcement, who then worked with her to arrange a second bait exchange.
On Feb. 12, police arrested Singh and Gonzales when they arrived in Payson for the second pickup.
Authorities believe Singh and Gonzales were aware they were involved in a criminal activity, but have no evidence to suggest they were making the scam calls or were involved in the January pickup.
The Payson Police Department says the incident is a good reminder for residents of the city and state to be wary of scams.
“It’s important to remember that no legitimate government agency will ever demand payment in cryptocurrency, gold, or gift cards,” the department said in a written statement. “If you’re ever unsure about the legitimacy of a call, we encourage you to contact the police department’s non-emergency line or reach out directly to the agency the caller claims to represent.”
Click here to learn more about scams made on Americans, as well as how to detect, avoid and report them to authorities.
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