GRANT COUNTY, Ind. — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 22-year-old Tirth A. Savani in connection with a scam that defrauded a 68-year-old man out of more than $231,000.
The investigation began in June 2025 after the victim reported that scammers had contacted him, posing as law enforcement officials. The scammers falsely claimed that the man’s identity had been stolen and that criminal charges had been filed under his name.
Police say the scammers convinced the victim to convert his savings into gold bars and cryptocurrency, allegedly to protect his assets during the investigation. A “courier” was arranged to collect the gold. On June 5, Savani picked up the gold, acting as the courier.
Tirth Savani, who was living in San Bernardino, California on a student visa, was identified by investigators. On Oct. 29, authorities obtained an arrest warrant charging him with fraud, theft, money laundering, and identity deception.
Detectives traveled to California on Nov. 4 and, with the assistance of San Bernardino police, arrested Savani. On Dec. 1, he voluntarily agreed to return to Indiana and is now being held in the Grant County Jail.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing as they continue to trace the full extent of the scam.
This case highlights the continuing threat of elder fraud schemes involving gold, cryptocurrency, and identity deception.
