KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Federal prosecutors are warning about a scam sweeping the country, including victims in Missouri and Kansas.

The scam tricks victims into turning money in their bank accounts into gold bars or coins to keep their money safe. Advertisement

“It’s devastating,” said Kate Mahoney, assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Their life savings are wiped out.”

Hearst Television’s national investigative unit has investigated this scam across the country in recent months. Hearst sister station WISN-TV and investigative reporter James Stratton recently spoke with a woman scammed out of more than $650,000 .

Here in Missouri, Mahoney is prosecuting a case involving an Illinois man who took a plea deal in connection with being a courier in a recent gold ba

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