How US Police Tricked Indian Scammer With Chocolate Coins To Expose Rs 6.65-Cr Gold Fraud
How US Police Tricked Indian Scammer With Chocolate Coins To Expose Rs 6.65-Cr Gold Fraud Published By, Last Updated: June 12, 2026, 19:07 IST Michigan
How US Police Tricked Indian Scammer With Chocolate Coins To Expose Rs 6.65-Cr Gold Fraud Published By, Last Updated: June 12, 2026, 19:07 IST Michigan store owner thwarts scam that nearly cost a 79-year-old woman Rs 6.65 crore in gold. Indian-origin suspect, Yug Chauhan, arrested in sting operation. Authorities launched a sting operation that led to the arrest of Chauhan. (Image: Reuters/Representative) A timely intervention by an alert store owner in the United States saved an elderly woman from losing a substantial portion of her savings in a scam allegedly involving an Indian-origin man. The woman, identified as a 79-year-old resident of Michigan, narrowly avoided losing $700,000 (Rs 6.65 crore) after fraudsters convinced her that her Social Security number was being used to “support terrorism", prompting her to convert her savings into gold to be handed over to them later. Fraudsters Pose As Social Security Agent According to investigators, the woman received calls from a man claiming to be a Social Security agent.
He allegedly told her that her funds were linked to terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering, and instructed her to buy gold so authorities could track the criminals, local news outlet WOOD TV8 reported. Store Owner Spots Red Flags Believing the claims, the woman contacted a local gold dealer and arranged to purchase approximately $700,000 worth of gold. However, the store owner became suspicious after noticing inconsistencies in her explanation and her urgency to complete the transaction. He alerted the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Undercover Sting Operation Detectives later visited the woman’s home and confirmed she was the target of a scam. While officers were there, the suspected fraudster continued calling and repeatedly asked whether she had gone to collect the gold. Authorities then launched a sting operation. Instead of handing over real gold, an undercover detective posing as an elderly woman delivered a package filled with chocolate gold coins to the suspected courier. “The undercover agent dressed up like an older woman, came in and got a package of chocolate gold coins from us to deliver to the courier," gold dealer Ben Soldaat said.
“I’m glad they did it like that. It was certainly quick thinking on their end," he added. Indian-Origin Suspect Arrested The courier, identified as 20-year-old Yug Chauhan of Illinois, was arrested when he arrived to collect the package. He has been charged with false pretenses involving more than $100,000 and using a computer to commit a crime. Meanwhile, Chauhan claimed he never met the man providing the instructions, adding that they “solely spoke in Hindi during their calls" and primarily communicated through WhatsApp. Last week, Chauhan had his felony case moved to Kent County Circuit Court. Chauhan is locked up in the Kent County jail with a $100,000 bond and a hold from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If convicted, he could face a maximum prison sentence of up to 20 years for each charge. The woman later thanked those who intervened. Authorities say the case highlights a growing trend of fraudsters targeting elderly people through elaborate gold-investment scams. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.
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