Callers who tell you to turn savings into gold or cash and hand it to a courier

The Scam

According to an Oct. 27, 2026 public warning from the Calvert County, Maryland State's Attorney's Office, fraudsters pretend to be government officials, law enforcement officers, technical support staff, or bank employees. They reach people through unsolicited phone calls, and through emails and fake web links that list a phone number to call for "help or assistance" with a problem. The office says these groups work on victims for weeks or months, persuading them to convert their assets into precious metals or cash, then telling them to hand the valuables to a courier for "safe-keeping" in a secure government account. The office says a man was recently found guilty in Calvert County Circuit Court of trying to steal more than $160,000 from a 69-year-old victim, and another man was charged with trying to steal about $300,000 from a 90-year-old resident.

The Targets

Older adults and people with aging family members, according to the Calvert County State's Attorney's Office.

Red flags

• Someone who says they're from the government, police, tech support, or your bank tells you to buy gold or other precious metals or withdraw cash
• You're told a courier will come pick up your money or valuables to keep them safe
• You're told your money must go into a "secure government account"
• You're told to keep it secret from your family
• An email or pop-up link gives you a phone number to call for help with a problem

Your Move

• Don't meet anyone to hand over cash, gold, or other precious metals
• Remember that U.S. government agencies and banks will never ask you to wire money, send cryptocurrency, deliver precious metals or cash, or buy gift cards to fix a problem with your accounts or devices
• Hang up and talk it over with a family member you trust. Real agencies and banks won't tell you to keep it secret
• If you or someone you know was contacted this way, contact local law enforcement right away (in Calvert County, the Sheriff's Office)

More steps for any scam link: I clicked a scam link. What now?

Still circulating?

The Calvert County State's Attorney's Office issued this warning Oct. 27, 2026, citing a recent conviction and a new criminal charge in local cases.