Friendswood police say an elderly resident was scammed into buying $25,000 in gift cards and converting about $185,000 to gold after a caller impersonated a federal agent. Authorities arrested Rajdeep Singh on Sept. 16, accusing him of collecting the gold; his bond was set at $5 million and an immigration detainer placed. Officials warn organized groups use courier pickups to collect cash or precious metals, and the FBI has logged 1,737 courier incidents from 2023–May 2025. Advice: end contact with anyone demanding gift cards or gold and verify agencies through official channels.
Second Friendswood Senior Scammed Out of $210K After Caller Posed as Federal Agent; Suspect Arrested
Image Credit: Friendswood Police Department.
A second elderly Friendswood resident was tricked into buying $25,000 in gift cards and converting roughly $185,000 into gold after a caller falsely claiming to be a federal agent warned that her family's financial information had been compromised.
Friendswood police say their investigation led them to Rajdeep Singh of California, who authorities allege acted as the courier who collected the gold. According to FOX 26 Houston, officers — with help from Meadows Place police — located Singh in Fort Bend County and arrested him on September 16.
How the scheme worked
Investigators say the woman had been in contact since August with someone posing as a federal agent. The caller falsely claimed the victim’s and her husband’s Social Security numbers were exposed and instructed her to move assets to protect them. The caller first told her to buy $25,000 in gift cards and provide the card details, then escalated the fraud by directing her to convert about $185,000 into gold bars.
On September 10 the victim met a courier she believed was connected to the federal government and handed over the gold. Friendswood detectives later identified Singh as the person they believe picked up the precious metals.
Charges and investigation
Singh is charged with theft of property valued between $150,000 and $300,000, with the charge enhanced because the alleged victim is elderly. His bond was set at $5 million, and an immigration detainer was placed on him. As with all criminal charges, the accusation has not been proven in court and Singh is presumed innocent unless convicted.
Police say the investigation began on September 15 after relatives noticed unusual calls and large transactions and contacted authorities. Family members said a recent Friendswood Police Department news release about a similar gold-related scam prompted them to probe further and urge the victim to report the activity.
Friendswood officers, working with the Meadows Place Police Department, located and arrested Singh six days after the handoff. Investigators believe he may have met with other victims across the Houston area during the previous month; police released his photo and vehicle details and asked anyone with information to call the Friendswood Police Department at 281-996-3300.
Warnings from agencies
The FBI has warned about fraud operations that combine government-impersonation calls, fake tech-support or other fabricated emergencies with couriers sent to collect cash or precious metals. From 2023 through May 2025 the bureau documented at least 1,737 incidents nationwide in which couriers collected bulk cash or gold, with roughly $186 million in reported losses.
The Federal Trade Commission emphasizes that real government officials will not ask someone to buy gift cards, withdraw cash, or convert savings into gold to protect funds. Scammers often give victims passwords, serial numbers or other identifiers to make a pickup look legitimate; these details do not verify that the courier represents any government agency.
What to do if targeted
If someone demands payment via gift cards, tells you to buy gold or withdraw large sums, end the call immediately and contact the agency directly using contact information from its official website. Family members who notice sudden large withdrawals or unusual purchases should ask questions before additional assets leave the person's control. Anyone who has prepared cash or precious metals for pickup should stop the handoff and contact local police right away; preserve phone numbers, messages, receipts, gold dealer records, courier descriptions and any other documentation to help investigators.
Friendswood Police Chief Josh Rogers said the department believes organized groups continue to target elderly residents and that investigators are pursuing additional leads.
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