Scammer caught with over 100 gold bars after targeting elderly with fake warrants: MCSO

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Over 100 gold bars — worth hundreds of thousands — were seized from a phone scammer who thought he'd remain anonymous, and now serve as evidence following his arrest.

The face behind the voice, provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) booking photo: 21-year-old Tejaskumar Patel.

Following his arrest, Patel told MCSO he came to the United States from India in 2023 by using a green card to work and visit family in Chicago. However, MCSO said Patel was linked to a larger group of scammers who target Americans by impersonating law enforcement and claiming they had outstanding warrants.