Rixford woman reports gold and cash losses as police seek more scam victims
A 74-year-old Rixford woman told Pennsylvania State Police she handed over about $259,000 in gold and cash to scammers who convinced her that her identity and bank accounts had been compromised.
In a Sept. 21, 2026, update, state police at Milton said investigators had identified the woman as a potential owner of gold seized during a traffic stop. Police are seeking other people who may have been targeted by the same fraud operation.
According to police, the woman said the scheme began with a pop-up on her home computer in July. Over the following months, she was instructed to withdraw her life savings and buy gold.
On Sept. 10, she met two suspects at a bakery in Rixford and gave them a package containing 43 ounces of gold valued at about $200,000, police said. She reported previously handing over another $59,000 in cash in two transactions.
That same day, troopers stopped a silver 2025 Honda Accord with California license plate 9TTS143 on Interstate 80 near mile marker 203. They found gold and an identity-theft affidavit inside the car and took its two occupants into custody, according to the release.
The release did not identify the occupants or announce charges.
Police are trying to identify two other potential victims: someone from the Port Royal area who may have met the same suspects on Aug. 28, and someone from the Myerstown area who may have met them on Sept. 9.
Investigators said the Honda had been in the Coudersport and Smethport area before the Sept. 10 stop. A victim also told police the car resembled one used to collect gold on Sept. 3.
In describing the scheme, police said callers pose as federal officers, including representatives of ICE or the Department of Homeland Security. They claim a criminal case is linked to the victim’s Social Security number and demand cooperation and secrecy. Callers have used the names Andrew Hall and John Allott.
Victims are often instructed to use Telegram and send the message “I am okay” every two hours, police said. They are then told to withdraw bank or retirement funds, purchase gold, wrap it and give it to a courier in a vehicle with tinted windows and out-of-state plates.
Anyone who handed over gold or cash on Sept. 9 or 10, particularly near Coudersport or Smethport, is asked to call the Troop F Milton Criminal Investigation Unit at 570-524-2662 and reference case PA 2026-1166513.