{"id":32149,"date":"2026-08-08T09:21:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:21:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=32149"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:21:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:21:56","slug":"2-men-charged-for-posing-as-federal-agents-in-washington-gold-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=32149","title":{"rendered":"2 men charged for posing as federal agents in Washington gold scam"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Two men accused of <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328007\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/topics\/cybercrime\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">posing as federal agents<\/a> were arrested after allegedly trying to scam an 85-year-old Washington, D.C., man into handing over more than $200,000 in gold bars, police said Friday.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">The Metropolitan Police Department said Chu Lin, 50, of Fresh Meadows, New York, and Xiean Cheng, 42, of Cornelius, North Carolina, were arrested after allegedly showing up at the victim&#8217;s home to collect the gold.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Both men were charged with <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328008\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/entertainment\/genres\/crime\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">second-degree financial fraud<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328009\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/woman-exposed-running-visa-fraud-scheme-spanning-years-posing-immigration-officer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WOMAN EXPOSED RUNNING VISA FRAUD SCHEME SPANNING YEARS, POSING AS IMMIGRATION OFFICER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/gold-bars-federal-agent-scam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/gold-bars-federal-agent-scam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/gold-bars-federal-agent-scam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/gold-bars-federal-agent-scam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/gold-bars-federal-agent-scam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"gold bars\/FBI agents\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Police said an 85-year-old man was instructed by scammers posing as federal agents to secure money in his bank account by purchasing more than $200,000 in gold bars.<\/span> <span>(Sven Hoppe\/picture alliance via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">According to police, the scheme began July 8 when scammers contacted the victim by email and later by phone while <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328010\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/topics\/cybercrime\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">posing as federal agents<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The scammers allegedly told the victim that <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328011\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/banking\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">funds in his bank account<\/a> were &#8220;in jeopardy of being lost&#8221; unless he secured the money by purchasing gold bars and turning them over.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Believing the scheme was legitimate, the victim attempted to purchase more than $200,000 worth of gold bars before the gold dealer recognized the apparent scam and alerted him, police said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328012\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/exclusive-fbi-adds-alleged-covid-fraudster-accused-taking-5m-kids-meal-program-most-wanted-list\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE: FBI ADDS ALLEGED COVID FRAUDSTER ACCUSED OF TAKING $5M FROM KIDS&#8217; MEAL PROGRAM TO MOST WANTED LIST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/343\/192\/fbi-agents.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/686\/384\/fbi-agents.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/672\/378\/fbi-agents.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1344\/756\/fbi-agents.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1200\/675\/fbi-agents.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"FBI agents standing in Washington, D.C.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>FBI agents assisted the Metropolitan Police Department in an investigation into an alleged scheme targeting an 85-year-old man for more than $200,000 in gold bars, police said.<\/span> <span>(Photo by Yasin Ozturk \/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Thinking that the scam was legitimate, the victim attempted to purchase over $200,000 worth of gold bars and was alerted by the gold dealer that he was being scammed,&#8221; police said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The gold dealer then alerted MPD&#8217;s <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328013\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rubio-unveils-visa-restrictions-targeting-cybercrime-networks\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit<\/a> and the FBI, according to authorities.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/343\/192\/police-stats-washington-dc.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/686\/384\/police-stats-washington-dc.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/672\/378\/police-stats-washington-dc.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1344\/756\/police-stats-washington-dc.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1200\/675\/police-stats-washington-dc.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Police standing outside patrol vehicle in DC\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>The Metropolitan Police Department said investigators worked with the FBI after a gold dealer alerted authorities to an alleged scam targeting an 85-year-old man.<\/span> <span>(Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">When the alleged scammers later arrived at the victim&#8217;s home to retrieve the gold bars, officers with MPD&#8217;s Violent Crime Suppression Division <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_328015\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/immigration\/enforcement\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">arrested Lin and Cheng<\/a>, police said.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Two men accused of posing as federal agents were arrested after allegedly trying to scam an 85-year-old Washington, D.C., man into handing over more than $200,000 in gold bars, police said Friday. The Metropolitan Police Department said Chu Lin, 50, of Fresh Meadows, New York, and Xiean&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gold-bars-federal-agent-scam.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}