BELLINGHAM, WA — A man arrested in Whatcom County is believed to be part of a nationwide scam ring impersonating federal agents to defraud elderly victims of cash and gold.
On May 15, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) received a report from a local victim who said he had been contacted by someone identifying himself as Daniel Lucas, an “agent” with the Federal Office of the Inspector General. The scammer knew the victim’s name and claimed he was being investigated for involvement in money laundering and related crimes.
In reality, the victim was being manipulated into handing over his life savings.
The fraudster told the victim he needed to protect his assets by making four separate payments to the Federal Reserve in Seattle. A second scammer, using the name David Freeman, later met with the victim in person to collect the payments — including some gold reserves.
Thankfully, the victim contacted authorities before all the payments were made, allowing the WCSO to coordinate with Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Treasury Department to set up a sting operation.
After collecting the fourth payment, the suspect tried to flee the scene at high speed but was quickly apprehended.
The suspect was identified as Xiaobin Zhou, 55, of California. He was found with convincing fake credentials and a badge, and is now in federal custody.
Investigators say Zhou is part of a larger, organized scam operation that’s been active across the country, specifically targeting elderly and affluent individuals.
Authorities warn the public to be cautious of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be law enforcement or government officials demanding money, especially involving gold or cryptocurrency.
