24-03-2025
'Fool's gold': Naples victim gives $2 million in gold to scammers; police nets arrest
A Naples person told police they lost more than $2 million dollars in a scheme that gave the scammers gold.
On Friday, Naples Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division and Special Investigations Unit Detectives conducted Operation 'Fool's Gold', arresting a Connecticut man on several felony charges related to the fraud, police said Monday.
Soyeb Rana, 25, of Plainfield, Connecticut, was charged with conspiracy, scheme to defraud, fleeing and eluding, and possession of marijuana less than 20 grams. He bonded out of Collier County Jail on Saturday.
More: Naples man and former Long Island business owner charged with $22 million Medicare scheme
A victim, 72, had reported the loss of more than $2 million after liquidating assets in exchange for gold, police said. The victim then provided untraceable gold incrementally to the scammers over several months.
The victim eventually realized he would not recover the gold conversions. Police devised a plan to apprehend the suspect.
When the operation commenced and the 'fool's gold' was provided to the suspect, detectives acted swiftly to apprehend him.
The suspect fled from detectives, they said, and the getaway vehicle was found nearby and abandoned. Detectives gave the suspect's description to surrounding patrol officers and deputies.
Detectives located the suspect shortly afterward, and he was taken into custody.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida $2 million gold scam lands Connecticut man in Naples jail
