WALTON COUNTY, Fla., April 2, 2025—The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a highly sophisticated scam that recently cost a Walton County resident more than a quarter of a million dollars.

The victim reported she was contacted by someone claiming her Social Security number had been compromised. 

The caller then transferred the victim to another individual posing as a federal officer. This person instructed the victim to protect her assets by moving $10,600 to the “Treasury Department” and purchasing gold.

The scammer directed the victim to a coin and bullion store where they bought more than $280,000 of gold. The scammers falsely claimed the gold would be placed in a U.S. Treasury vault for safekeeping.

The scammers orchestrated a delivery and later had the victim repackage the gold using a password provided for a supposed “undercover officer.” The victim then left the gold in a designated vehicle as instructed.

When the victim attempted to follow up with the supposed officer, she discovered the phone number had been disconnected.

More and more, people are bombarded with very elaborate, sophisticated scam attempts via phone, email, snail mail and text messages in an attempt to separate them from their money, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Both the OCSO and the WCSO stress that no legitimate government or law enforcement agency will ever ask for payments or to transfer valuables using gift cards, cryptocurrency, bullion, bitcoin or through undercover operations.

If contacted by a call, text message or email:

• Hang up, ignore or delete.
• Do not give out personal or financial information.
• Report the incident to local law enforcement.

For more information about current scams and how to avoid them, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Scam Alerts page.

Staff and WCSO release