Zhenyong Weng, a 19-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., has been arrested for allegedly targeting an 82-year-old woman from Silver Spring, Maryland, in a government-imposter-related gold bar scam.
In this recent case, the elderly woman lost $900,000 to scammers and was on the verge of losing an additional $2.5 million before police intervened.
According to police, in early May 2024, the victim was contacted by an unknown individual who instructed her to convert her assets into gold bars to prevent Russia from seizing her money. The woman complied, handing over several packages containing gold bars worth over $900,000.
Weng was arrested on Monday, July 10, at approximately 5:22 p.m. in Silver Spring while attempting to collect a package from the victim valued at over $70,000. The arrest was part of an operation conducted by Montgomery County Police officers in conjunction with the Financial Crimes Section.
“The number one thing we can do is to warn the public. This is not just in Montgomery County – it’s happening all across the country. Scammers are targeting seniors for large amounts of money, purposefully and methodically,” said John McCarthy, Montgomery County State’s Attorney.
McCarthy noted that there have been at least 19 victims of this gold bar scam in Montgomery County, with three people charged and currently held without bond. It is unclear if these cases are connected.
“If you are a senior resident in Montgomery County, do not click on pop-up ads or open them. That was the beginning of what led to the theft in this case,” McCarthy advised. “Hang up on these people and call the police.”
McCarthy has been actively warning senior citizens in various communities, like Leisure World, about the scam, which has caused victims to lose their life savings.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the woman will recover the $900,000 as the gold bars are untraceable. It is unclear if the gold is still in Maryland or even in the country.
Weng is currently being held without bond at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.