A 39-year-old California man, Wenhui Sun, was arrested in Montgomery County, Maryland, accused of scamming a woman out of $789,000 in gold bars.
According to the Montgomery County Police Department, Sun posed as a member of the Office of the Inspector General at the Federal Trade Commission this month. He allegedly informed the victim that she was a victim of identity theft, which had initiated a federal investigation involving drug trafficking and money laundering.
Sun directed the woman to convert her assets, valued at $789,000, into two gold bars, claiming that a courier—an FBI agent—would retrieve the bars for safekeeping at the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The victim complied with his instructions, transferring her assets as directed. Police later identified Sun as the individual who delivered the second set of gold bars.
Sun was arrested around 7 p.m. on Monday in Montgomery County and is currently being held in jail without bond. He faces charges related to the scam.
Detectives suspect there may be additional victims and remind the public that law enforcement will never contact individuals in this manner.
Anyone with information about Wenhui Sun or this scam is encouraged to report it via the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD, by visiting www.crimesolversmcmd.org and clicking on the www.p3tips.com link at the top of the page or calling 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is available for information leading to Sun’s arrest, and tips may remain anonymous.