TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y. (WENY) -- A New Jersey man has been indicted for allegedly scamming roughly $500,000 in gold bars from a victim in Tompkins County. As a result, police say 41-year-old Akash Thakkar has been charged with Grandy Larceny.

According to police, Thakkar coerced the victim to give scammers $250,000 in gold bars, and then was convinced to buy another $250,000 in gold bars that police say Thakkar picked up in August of 2024.

Police say the arrest is a great reminder that scammers are getting bolder and more sophisticated, and regularly target senior citizens.

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