Michigan widow targeted by scammer, gets ready to give him gold worth $70k. But what the scamner gets is a bag filled with chocolate

A 79-year-old widow from the Grand Rapids area nearly lost $700,000 in life savings after scammers allegedly convinced her to convert her money into gold. A quick-thinking coin dealer in Kent County helped stop the scheme before the gold ever changed hands. The incident unfolded at Grand Rapids Coins on 10 Mile Road NE in Rockford, a community northeast of Grand Rapids in western Michigan.

According to local reporting from WOOD-TV, scammers called the unidentified woman and claimed that authorities had linked her Social Security number to terrorism, money laundering, and drug crimes. The woman then wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase gold, but the store owner, Ben Soldaat, noticed something was wrong.

The callers allegedly told her that authorities needed her to move her assets into gold so investigators could track criminals. The woman followed those instructions and arranged to purchase approximately $700,000 worth of gold, according to reports.

Soldaat saw red flags and contacted law enforcement

Soldaat later told local media that the woman appeared distressed, rushed, and unfamiliar with gold transactions. Those details raised red flags for him. Before releasing the gold, he contacted the Kent County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators determined that the woman had fallen victim to a scam that resembles a growing type of fraud targeting older Americans. According to warnings from the FBI and Federal Trade Commission, scammers instruct victims to convert savings into gold or cash before handing the assets to couriers.

Reports indicate that while deputies remained at the woman’s home, the scammers continued calling her to arrange a pickup. Instead of sending the widow to deliver the gold, investigators reportedly used an undercover officer posing as an older woman. The widow’s $700,000 was successfully returned to her bank account.

When the alleged courier arrived expecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in precious metals, he reportedly received a bag filled with chocolate gold coins instead. Authorities arrested 20-year-old Yug B. Chauhan of Illinois after the exchange.

Court records and media reports state that he faces felony charges, including false pretenses involving more than $100,000 and using a computer to commit a crime. Chauhan is currently being held at the Kent County Jail on a $100,000 bond, and he is subject to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer. 

Additionally, newly released court details note that Chauhan claimed he was acting on instructions from a handler named “Bhawsh,” who coordinated his transport via rideshare to pick up the package, according to The Times of India.

Federal and state government agencies, including the Social Security Administration and law enforcement, will never call citizens to demand asset liquidation, cash withdrawals, or wire transfers into precious metals. If you receive a similar demand, hang up and contact your local police department immediately.