Illinois Woman Duped Out of $318K in Elaborate Gold-Bar Scheme Involving Computer Hacks and a Sting Operation

Southern Illinois woman duped out of $318K in elaborate gold-bar scheme

A woman was instructed to spend more than $823,000 on gold bars that she believed a federal agent needed her to turn over for safekeeping.

Illinois Woman Duped Out of $318K in Elaborate Gold-Bar Scheme Involving Computer Hacks and a Sting Operation

Illinois Woman Duped Out of $318K in Elaborate Gold-Bar Scheme Involving Computer Hacks and a Sting Operation Capitol News I… Wed, 09/30/2026 - 16:43 by Soph Levinson and William Mize, Saluki Local Reporting Lab; Molly Parker, Capitol News Illinois Article Summary This summer, scammers convinced a 78-year-old Marion woman that her Edward Jones Investment accounts had been compromised, and that she needed to buy more than $800,000 in gold bars a…

Scammers pose as federal agents in $1.8 million Southern Illinois fraud

A 78-year-old Marion woman lost access to nearly $1.8 million after scammers posing as technology support workers and financial fraud investigators convinced her to move money and purchase gold bars. Soph Levinson & William Mize Saluki Local Reporting Lab Molly Parker Capitol News Illinois BENTON — A 78-year-old southern Illinois woman was alarmed when a popup message appeared on her computer in April warning that it had been compromised. She G…

Marion woman duped out of $318K in elaborate gold-bar scheme | Illinois State Bar Association

Marion woman duped out of $318K in elaborate gold-bar schemeA 78-year-old southern Illinois woman was alarmed when a popup message appeared on her computer in April warning that it had been compromised. She Googled the number for Microsoft support and called the first option that appeared in her search results. Source: Capitol News Illinois