IBERIA PARISH, La. — A New York man has been arrested in South Louisiana for allegedly running a global gold investment scam that defrauded victims of thousands of dollars.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Pengfei Tian, a 29-year-old Chinese national from Flushing, New York. According to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Tian was living in the U.S. on an expired work visa and is believed to be part of an organized criminal network targeting victims online.
The Iberia Parish Special Investigations Unit reported that the scam was executed through social media platforms. Victims were contacted by members of the group, who gradually built trust before pitching a fraudulent “high-yield” gold investment opportunity.
Once convinced, the victims were directed to send funds using untraceable methods, including cryptocurrency kiosks and cash mailings.
Authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the operation and warn the public to be cautious about online investment opportunities.
