A 75-year-old woman in Tamarac, Florida, was deceived by callers posing as Walmart staff and a U.S. marshal into converting about 33 years of family savings into gold — a loss of more than $300,000. Investigators say the fraudsters used spoofed numbers, fake badge and case numbers, and threats of arrest tied to an alleged vehicle linked to her identity. Broward detectives arrested 21-year-old Mohit Mohit of Jacksonville in connection with in-person pickups; charges include scheme to defraud and grand theft from an elderly person. Authorities urge anyone who receives similar calls to hang up, verify agencies independently, and report scams to the FTC and FBI.
Impostor 'U.S. Marshal' Scam: 75-Year-Old Loses Over $300,000 After Being Pressured to Buy Gold
Image Credit: Broward Sheriff's Office.
A 75-year-old Tamarac, Florida, resident was the victim of an elaborate phone scam that convinced her to convert roughly 33 years of family savings into gold — a loss investigators say exceeded $300,000.
How the Scam Worked
The scheme began with a call from someone claiming to be from Walmart’s fraud department about a $1,400 Apple laptop charged in the woman’s name. When she denied the purchase, the caller routed her through a chain of purported officials until she reached a man identifying himself as “U.S. Marshal Adam Peterson,” who said her identity was tied to an active federal criminal investigation.
The callers used fabricated details — spoofed phone numbers, fictitious badge numbers and fake case numbers — to make the story sound official. They told the victim that authorities had found an abandoned vehicle in Texas linked to her identity, and that the vehicle contained narcotics, cash and evidence of human trafficking. They said a federal warrant had been issued for her arrest.
The scammers offered two options: pay $100,000 to retain an attorney or “cooperate” with the investigation. Investigators say the fraudulent definition of cooperation required the woman to liquidate her financial assets and convert them into gold, which the callers promised would be held securely while the fictitious investigation continued.
Pickup and Arrest
Following instructions, the woman packaged the gold, labeled the parcel with an account number, and remained on the phone while transporting it. She was directed to a gas station, where a courier confirmed a code and took the package.
Broward County detectives later identified 21-year-old Mohit Mohit of Jacksonville as an alleged participant who handled in-person pickups. Detectives tied a red Honda Accord and a gray Jeep SUV to the operation. Mohit was arrested Aug. 3 in Bradford County on a Broward County warrant. Jail records list charges including scheme to defraud, grand theft from a person 65 or older, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Warnings and What To Do
The U.S. Marshals Service and other federal agencies warn that impostors may impersonate government officials using official-sounding names, badge numbers, case numbers and spoofed phone numbers while threatening arrest. Federal agencies will not demand money over the phone to resolve a warrant or investigation.
If you receive a suspicious call:
- Hang up immediately and do not call any number provided by the caller.
- Verify the claim by contacting the named agency using a phone number or contact method obtained independently from the agency’s official website.
- Never follow instructions to buy gold, send money, or hand cash or packages to couriers as a condition of avoiding arrest — these are common signs of a scam, says the Federal Trade Commission.
Officials believe additional victims may exist. Anyone who may have encountered a similar scheme can contact Broward Sheriff’s Office Detective Steven Lees at 954-720-2225 or the agency’s non-emergency number at 954-764-4357. Scams may also be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI via the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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