D.C. Police Arrest California Couple in $640K Gold Bar Scam
The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., warns the public about a costly fraud known as the gold bar scam, which recently led to the arrest of two suspects.
Amruth Vaka (27) and Saloni Shaikh (28), both from California, were arrested after traveling to D.C. under the guise of couriers helping a victim protect her assets. The victim was told to convert her money into gold coins or bars for safekeeping, with the suspects promising to pick up and secure the gold.
Instead, the duo exploited the victim, stealing approximately $640,000 through gold and wire transfers since February. Their scheme unraveled after a concerned gold dealer alerted police in June.
On Tuesday, the suspects came to collect what was supposed to be $200,000 in gold, but the box was empty, resulting in their arrest. They now face federal fraud charges.
Assistant Chief Ramey Kyle explained the scam often starts with a fake computer warning that tricks victims into calling a fraudulent number. “Those four words can keep you from becoming a victim of what’s known as a gold bar scam,” Kyle said.
Commander Kevin Kentish noted the difficulty in bringing scammers to justice, adding, “This is one of the good cases that we get to report out we were actually able to hold someone accountable. It doesn’t always end up like this.”
Authorities are urging anyone who may have been victimized by Vaka or Shaikh to come forward. The police have released photos of the suspects to aid in the investigation.
