The state’s top prosecutor is warning seniors and their families about a new scam becoming increasingly common across New York.
State Attorney General Letitia James on Friday issued a consumer alert about “gold bar scams” targeting older community members.
James says the scams involve a fake cybersecurity message on victims’ computers, claiming their financial accounts have been compromised or linked to some sort of crime.
The scammers will then request remote access to the computer and, posing as law enforcement, try to persuade victims to convert their savings into gold bars, which are then collected by a courier.
“Targeting older adults with seemingly legitimate claims that their life savings are in immediate danger is flat-out cruel,” James said in a statement. “Seniors deserve to live comfortably without fear of losing their hard-earned savings to a manipulative scam. I am urging all New Yorkers to beware of these gold bar scams and report suspicious messages related to this scam to my office.”
The AG says New York City Police Department investigators have seen more than 100 of these cases in the last two years, resulting in about $100 million in losses.
So what can you do if you encounter this situation?
First, the AG says do not call the number provided in any pop-up messages.
She also says never allow someone you don’t know to have remote access to your computer.
If a caller claims there are issues with your bank account, hang up and call the bank number printed on your last financial statement.
And if all else fails, reach out to a trusted friend or family member and explain what happened.
You can file a complaint with the AG’s office online or by calling 1-800-771-7755.