WALDORF, Md. — Southern Maryland residents are being urged to stay vigilant as government impersonation scams continue to target older adults across the state — with con artists demanding payments in gold bars, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
The Federal Trade Commission is warning the public about a surge in impersonation scams in which fraudsters pose as government agents, law enforcement or tech support. Their goal is to pressure people into draining their accounts and handing over funds in untraceable forms.
In a consumer alert, the Federal Trade Commission makes it clear: No one from the government will ever tell you to buy and deliver gold bars, move your money or give cash to anyone. If someone does, that’s a scammer.
The scams often begin with frightening messages — such as claims that your identity has been stolen, your bank account is compromised or that you are under investigation. The scammers insist that immediate action is required: withdraw your funds, buy gold or move your money to a “government-secured” account.
The FTC urges anyone who receives such a message to immediately hang up, stop responding and report the incident at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Victims should also notify their bank and speak with someone they trust.
Maryland Cases Show Scam’s Devastating Reach
Montgomery County has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the country, with local police reporting more than $5 million in gold-related scam losses over the past year.
- In Bethesda, a 74-year-old woman lost $1.1 million after scammers convinced her to buy gold bars and hand them off in parking lots.
- In Rockville, a man posing as a federal agent pressured a victim into withdrawing life savings and delivering them to a courier, who was later arrested.
- In March 2025, a man named Wenhui Sun was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison for collecting nearly $800,000 in gold bars from a Maryland woman misled by impersonators.
If You’re in Maryland and Think You’ve Been Targeted:
- Call your local police non-emergency line.
- Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Speak with a trusted family member or financial adviser before making any financial moves under pressure.
For more information and consumer resources, visit consumer.ftc.gov.
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Way to go Forrest Gump