Loading dispatches...
← Return to Newsroomgeneral
Indian national held in US gold bar scam targeting elderly woman
Breaking
Cornell president says university 'must do better' after frat house rape allegations
A 20-year-old Indian national has been arrested in Florida for allegedly attempting to collect nearly $5,00,000 worth of gold from an elderly woman who was targeted in an elaborate phishing and impersonation scam involving fake federal agents. The accused, Gurpinder Singh, is being held without bond in the county jail, with an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainer noted due to his immigration status.According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gurpinder Singh, a resident of French Camp, California, was arrested on June 1 during an FBI-assisted sting operation after authorities uncovered a plot to defraud a Gainesville woman of gold bars valued at $4,97,229. Investigators said the victim was first contacted through an email purporting to be from Amazon regarding a problem with her bank account. After calling a phone number provided in the message, she was allegedly told by individuals posing as government officials that her identity and Social Security number had been compromised. One of the callers, who identified himself as a Federal Trade Commission agent, allegedly instructed the woman to convert her assets into gold bars for “safekeeping”. Acting on those instructions, she purchased more than $1,01,000 worth of gold and handed it over to a man posing as a Treasury Department agent at a gas station in Orange Lake. The scammers later demanded that she purchase an additional $4,00,000 worth of gold, claiming it was necessary to fully secure her assets and obtain a new Social Security number. Federal investigators became aware of the scheme and coordinated a controlled operation with the victim and the local police. The woman sent photographs of gold bars worth $4,97,229 to the suspects and arranged a handover on June 1 near SW Archer Road in Gainesville.Story continues below this ad Authorities said undercover officers observed a black Kia parked near the meeting location with Singh inside. Investigators alleged that Singh was monitoring the victim’s vehicle while speaking on the phone, a behaviour consistent with that of a courier in such fraud operations. Gurpinder Singh ( Officials said he identified himself using an Indian passport and a California driver’s licence and admitted that he had recently flown from California to Florida. He has been charged with grand theft and is being held without bond in the Alachua County Jail. Authorities have also lodged an immigration detainer against him. Series of prosecutions The case is the latest in a series of prosecutions linked to “gold bar” scams that have proliferated across the United States in recent years. In February this year, Missouri resident Sital Singh was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that stole more than $9 million from elderly victims across 10 states. Prosecutors said victims were persuaded through fake tech-support and government-impersonation calls to purchase gold bars, which were then collected by couriers.Story continues below this ad US authorities have spent several years dismantling large-scale fraud operations allegedly run from call centres in India. In one of the biggest crackdowns, federal investigators charged dozens of people linked to IRS and immigration impersonation scams that targeted thousands of Americans and generated millions of dollars in losses. Several cases involved US-based associates who allegedly collected money, laundered proceeds, or facilitated transfers on behalf of overseas operators.
Ashoke Pandit has reacted sharply to Kangana Ranaut’s support for Ranveer Singh amid the ongoing Don 3 controversy.The controversy surrounding Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3 got many reactions emerging from within the film industry. Filmmaker and FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit recently responded to actor-politician Kangana Ranaut’s recent remark regarding the non-cooperation directive issued against Ranveer Singh by the film body. He was speaking to the media after announcing that the directive has been revoked. While addressing the media during a press conference, filmmaker and FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit strongly responded to comments made by Kangana. The actor had reacted to the ongoing dispute between Ranveer Singh and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). Speaking at an event, Kangana Ranaut appeared to support Ranveer, saying that as a person’s stature grows, so do their enemies. Kangana remarked, “Jab haisiyat badhti hai toh dushman bhi badhte hain,” suggesting that opposition often comes with success. Reacting to her comments, Ashoke Pandit did not hold back and he dismissed Kangana’s observations and questioned her understanding of the issue. According to him, the federation’s stand has been widely misunderstood, with several people reacting to headlines rather than the facts of the case. “A lot of people in the industry have started abusing us. Yesterday, Kangana also said something. They are not understanding the whole issue, and people are just commenting. Kangana also said that even I have been banned by the industry. I said, ‘You talk nonsense, that’s why I banned you.’ I don’t care. There is a big issue of the industry here. You don’t even know the issue. You are just saying things. We are not against Ranveer. We are talking about what has happened,” shared Ashoke Pandit. He further clarified that FWICE’s stance is not aimed at Ranveer Singh as an individual, but is rooted in concerns over professional accountability and the broader impact such disputes can have on producers, technicians, workers, and others involved in a film’s production. He emphasised that people should first understand the background and circumstances that prompted the federation’s action before forming opinions or reacting publicly to the controversy. The Don 3 controversy The larger controversy stems from Ranveer Singh’s reported departure from Don 3, which allegedly resulted in financial losses for the film’s producers. Following complaints regarding the matter, FWICE issued a non-cooperation directive against the actor.Story continues below this ad However, Ashoke Pandit soon clarified that it is not a legal ban, but a directive advising its members not to work with Ranveer until the issue is resolved. FWICE revokes the Non-Cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh A week after issuing a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh over his exit from Don 3, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has withdrawn its stance. The decision comes following requests from fellow industry bodies, including the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) and the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA). While FWICE stated that its legal team will continue to respond to the legal notices sent by Ranveer Singh’s side, the federation has chosen to revoke the directive in the interest of maintaining harmony within the film industry.
Discussion (0)