Another Friendswood Resident Falls Victim to Gold Scam as FPD investigators Make Arrests in California
While Friendswood Police Department investigators were in California making arrests connected to an ongoing gold scam investigation, another elderly Friendswood resident was turning over approximately $185,000 in gold to a courier involved in a similar scheme.
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the Friendswood Police Department received a report from a resident after family members became concerned about suspicious phone calls and financial transactions. The family urged the victim to contact police after seeing FPD’s recent media release regarding gold scams targeting elderly residents.
The victim told police that she had been communicating with a man since August who falsely identified himself as a federal agent. The suspect contacted the victim via email and claimed that her Social Security information, as well as her husband’s, had been compromised.
The suspect convinced the victim that in order to protect her financial assets, she needed to provide $25,000 in gift cards and convert approximately $185,000 into gold bars. The victim followed the scammer’s instructions and provided the gift card information.
On September 10, 2026, the same day Friendswood investigators were in California making arrests connected to a separate gold scam investigation, the victim met with a courier she believed to be a federal agent and turned over approximately $185,000 in gold bars.
Friendswood investigators immediately began working to identify the courier. On September 16, 2026, investigators positively identified him as Rajdeep Singh, 27, of California. Friendswood Police, with assistance from the Meadows Place Police Department, located Singh in Fort Bend County and took him into custody. The Galveston County District Attorney’s Office accepted charges on Singh for Theft of Property Valued at $150,000 and $300,000 with an elderly victim enhancement (1st degree felony). His bond was set at $5 million and an immigration detainer has also been placed.
The Friendswood Police Department believes that Singh has met with multiple victims in the Houston area over the span of the past 4 weeks. If you recognize this car or this suspect, please contact the Friendswood Police Department at 281-996-3300.
“These criminals are terrorizing our elderly community and taking their life savings. They are extremely persistent but so are we,” said Friendswood Police Chief Josh Rogers. “We will continue investigate these crimes to the fullest extent of the law. We are nowhere near done.”
The Friendswood Police Department would like to commend the victim in this case for following the advice of family members and contacting local law enforcement. We would also like to thank the family members for speaking with their loved ones and urging them to contact us.
We continue to urge residents to tell their elderly friends, neighbors, and family members about these scams. Remember, legitimate law enforcement agencies, federal agencies, and financial institutions will never instruct you to purchase gold, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other assets to protect your money or avoid arrest.
Anyone who receives a similar call should stop communicating with the caller and immediately contact their local law enforcement agency.
