Newton, Massachusetts, September 16, 2025
News Summary
A 23-year-old man from Queens, Vishal Kumar, has been charged with extortion and larceny after a phone scam convinced a 72-year-old woman in Newton to hand over nearly $500,000 in cash and gold bars. The scam involved impersonating government officials and applying pressure through threats of arrest. After extensive withdrawals and deliveries of gold bars, authorities intervened following family reports. Kumar is currently held on $500,000 bail with a court date set.
Newton, Massachusetts — A 23-year-old man from Queens has been charged after an elaborate phone scam allegedly convinced a 72-year-old Newton woman to give up nearly $500,000 in cash and gold bars.
Key facts
Defendant: Vishal Kumar, 23, of Queens.
Charges: Extortion, larceny over $250 from a person over 60, and conspiracy.
Alleged loss: About $480,755 in gold bars and a bank wire.
Custody status: Indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury, held on $500,000 bail, next court date April 2.
What authorities say happened
On December 4, the victim received a phone call from someone falsely identifying themselves as an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration who claimed the woman was tied to $2 million in drug-related accounts opened in her name. The caller told her to transfer assets to the U.S. Treasury to prevent identity theft and warned that failure to comply would result in arrest by the FBI.
Later, another caller, posing as a case manager with the U.S. Treasury, instructed the woman to buy gold bars to secure her assets and to help facilitate a change to her Social Security number. Acting on those instructions, she withdrew funds from her retirement account and made physical deliveries of gold bars in two separate transactions: 12 gold bars on December 17 valued at approximately $342,000, and three gold bars on December 24 valued at about $89,000. On December 26 she also wired $49,755 to a bank account supplied by the scammers.
The victim was told her gold would be secured with Treasury checks. Those checks were later found to be counterfeit. Family members discovered the scheme and contacted law enforcement, which led to an investigation and a planned sting operation.
Arrest and indictment
As part of the investigation, an undercover officer posed as the victim and prepared to deliver a package of gold valued at $165,000. When the officer met with the suspect, Kumar confirmed a code word that had been given to the original victim during the scheme. Newton police and FBI agents arrested Kumar after he accepted the package. The case was presented to a Middlesex County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment on February 26. Kumar was arraigned and is being held with bail set at $500,000. He is scheduled to return to court on April 2.
Prosecutor’s summary of the case traits
Prosecutors characterized this scheme as including multiple points of contact, impersonation of government officials, and the use of fear and threats to pressure the victim into quick action. Those elements are common in reported financial scams targeting older adults, according to the prosecutor handling the case.
Why this matters
The case shows how scammers combine social engineering over the phone with instructions that require rapid and irreversible actions—such as withdrawing retirement funds, buying physical goods like gold, and wiring money—to make recovery difficult. Targets are often told they will be arrested or that their identity is at immediate risk, creating panic and reducing the chance they will verify details with family or authorities.
What steps were involved in the alleged fraud (brief timeline)
- December 4: Initial call impersonating DEA agent, claim of $2 million in accounts.
- Mid-December: Follow-up calls directing purchase of gold bars and asset transfers.
- December 17: Delivery of 12 gold bars (~$342,000).
- December 24: Delivery of 3 gold bars (~$89,000).
- December 26: Wire transfer of $49,755 to account given by scammers.
- Subsequent family report led to sting; undercover delivery and arrest.
- February 26: Indictment returned; defendant held on $500,000 bail.
Background and prevention tips
Scams that rely on impersonating law enforcement or government agencies often pressure victims to act immediately and to use nontraditional means of payment such as gift cards, prepaid accounts, or purchasing physical items. Common prevention steps include verifying callers by contacting the agency directly using official phone numbers, checking with trusted family members before sending money or valuable items, and reporting suspicious contacts to local police or federal fraud-reporting channels.
FAQ
Who has been charged in this case?
The defendant is a 23-year-old man from Queens, charged with extortion, larceny over $250 from a person over 60, and conspiracy.
How did the scam work?
Scammers called the victim claiming to be government agents, said her identity was tied to illegal activity, and used threats of arrest to force quick action. The victim was told to buy gold bars and transfer assets to protect her accounts; counterfeit checks and a false promise of Treasury protection were used to reassure her.
How much money was taken?
Authorities say the total loss was roughly $480,755, including about $431,000 in gold bars delivered in December and a separate wire transfer of $49,755.
What led to the arrest?
Family members reported the situation to police. Investigators set up a sting with an undercover officer who posed as the victim and delivered a package of gold; the suspect accepted the package and was arrested after confirming a prearranged code word.
How can people avoid similar scams?
Do not trust unsolicited calls claiming to be from government agencies. Verify independently using official contact numbers, consult trusted family members, and never send money or valuables based on pressure tactics. Report suspicious calls to local police and fraud-reporting authorities.
Quick reference timeline
| Date | Event | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|---|
| December 4 | Initial call impersonating DEA alleging accounts tied to victim | — |
| December 17 | Delivery of 12 gold bars | $342,000 |
| December 24 | Delivery of 3 gold bars | $89,000 |
| December 26 | Wire transfer to account provided by scammers | $49,755 |
| Undercover operation (date following family report) | Undercover delivery of gold led to arrest | $165,000 (package used in sting) |
| February 26 | Middlesex County Grand Jury indictment | — |
| April 2 | Next scheduled court date | — |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Boston Residents Beware: Tax Scams are on the Rise!
Additional Resources
- WCVB: Mass Older Adults Falling for New Gold Bar Scams, FBI Boston Warns
- Boston.com: Scammers Allegedly Had a Newton Woman Deliver Over $400,000 in Gold Bars, One Is Now Charged
- NBC Boston: Man Accused of Scamming 72-Year-Old Newton Woman Out of $480K
- WWLP: Westfield Police Warning Residents of Gold Bar Scheme
- Wikipedia: Scam
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
