Eugene Police Warn Seniors About Scam That Tells Victims to Buy Gold Bars

EUGENE, Ore. — The national gold bar scam has hit Eugene, and local police remind residents that if a request from a caller sounds quirky or weird, it probably is.

Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable when contacted by scammers via phone or email.

Victims are told that their bank accounts or computers have been hacked. They are also sometimes told that their bank account was used to buy arms for a foreign country.

Scammers Pose As Government or Law Enforcement Agency Employees

Scammers, presenting themselves as government or law enforcement agency employees, often suggest that the name and social security number of their victims have been linked to crimes.

Their goal is to entice victims to purchase gold bars to protect their financial assets, or to move their cash to someone for ‘safekeeping.’

The Eugene Police Department has issued a reminder to residents that no one from law enforcement or the government will ever ask anyone to buy gold bars, move their money elsewhere, or hand over cash to an unknown individual.

Readers are also reminded that residents should never open unknown links in texts or emails, and to visit their banks if they receive suspicious calls or instructions.

If you receive a phone call and recognize that the call is a scam, please ang up immediately and report the information to www.ic3.gov

If you are the victim of a scam and have incurred a loss, please call the EPD non-emergency at 541.682.5111.