A Scranton man is facing serious charges after allegedly participating in a gold bar theft scheme that defrauded an elderly woman out of more than $215,000.
Authorities say the scam began in January when a 68-year-old Lehigh County resident received a call claiming her bank account had been compromised. The caller instructed her to withdraw funds, convert them into gold bars, and hand them over to a courier for “safekeeping.”
That courier, according to investigators, was 25-year-old Dharmikkumar Sutariya of Scranton. He allegedly received two gold bars from the victim, valued at over $215,000. Sutariya now faces multiple charges, including theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and unlawful taking. He is currently held in Luzerne County.
Officials warn that scams involving untraceable assets—like gold, cryptocurrency, and gift cards—are on the rise. They urge residents, especially seniors, to be skeptical of unsolicited financial instructions and to never share banking information over the phone or email.
This case highlights a disturbing trend: scammers are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals with high-value, hard-to-trace transactions. Public awareness and swift reporting remain key defenses.
Based on reporting by: