Accused Gold Scammer Fooled Into Accepting Chocolate Coins

The alleged bag man in a $700,000 gold scam walked away from a Michigan coin shop with something far less valuable: foil-wrapped chocolate. Authorities say scammers convinced a 79-year-old Ottawa County widow that her Social Security number was tied to terrorism and that she needed to turn her savings into gold so law enforcement could track the criminals, WOOD's John Hogan and Susan Samples report. When she wired $700,000 to Grand Rapids Coins, owner Ben Soldaat grew suspicious of her urgency and confusion and called the Kent County Sheriff's Office. Detectives confirmed she was being duped, then set up a sting.

An undercover officer, disguised as an elderly woman, picked up a package of chocolate coins from Soldaat and delivered it to the supposed courier, waiting nearby. Police arrested that courier, 20-year-old Yug B. Chauhan of Illinois, who now faces two felony charges, each carrying up to 20 years in prison, and is being held on $100,000 bond with an ICE detainer. Investigators believe the scheme originated overseas and say similar gold-based scams targeting older Americans are on the rise nationwide. The widow, who recovered her money, hopes her story warns others before they're cleaned out. For the full story as told by the widow and Soldaat, read WOOD's reporting here.