[Gold scam]

My then best friend, John, is in the gold buying business. He travels twice or more a year to Ghana where he buys 20 to 40 kilos gold dust along with his cousin. He has many contacts in Ghana including members of the Royal Family. He owns several exotic cars like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and a new Corvette. His family is also very wealthy and own priceless works of art. I know the artwork for a fact since he asked me to clean up dozens of documents he has on a piece of artwork valued at over $25 million. And I sent these documents to his potential buyers.

We became such close friends we even introduced him to our lady friend and they soon became inseparable and were planning to get married.

Since I had worked ten years in Africa, I knew my way around. And this past February, John asked me if I would be his representative to fly to Ghana and pick up gold dust which was waiting for him. John's office arranged my visa and at the beginning of June I was scheduled to fly over.

Then in May, John calls me up and says his Royal Family member had sent his courier to New Jersey with 25 kilos of gold dust for John to pick up. The cost was only $100,000 and John would pay the agreed balance once he had the gold assayed at his refinery in Miami.

This was a last second trip and John was only able to pull $85,000 out of his bank account and asked me for $15,000 to help him out. Being my best friend I saw little risk in helping him at this last second. John was also taking his uncle Waldo with him and was going to bring the Ghana courier back with us, so John also asked if I could use my mini van for the trip. He would cover all expenses.

When we arrived in New Jersey we met the courier at a shopping mall. John inspected the gold dust and took it to a jeweler who tested it, while uncle Waldo and I stayed by my car with the cash in it. John returned very happy the gold was real. The courier said he had to go back to his hotel room to get his things. When the courier came back with the gold dust, John counted out the $100,000 and gave it to the courier and was handed the 25kg gold dust. The courier said he forgot his passport in the hotel room and left to get it.
We waited and waited. John then had a sick thought... he took another sample of gold dust to the jeweler, but this time it was fake... and the courier never came back and never answered his cell phone.

John was very upset. On the drive back home John said he would immediately pay me back my $15,000 plus add $3,000 for the use of my car.

Days after we returned John and I were in constant contact with each other and also his Royal Family member contact, named Nana, in Ghana. John and I exchanged countless emails amongst ourselves and Nana about all the money we both lost. Nana said to be patient and that he would make good on our loss.

Days turned into weeks and into months waiting for some good news from Nana. I pleaded with John via emails and phone calls to sell some of his riches and give me back my money, but John said he does not operate that way and I need to wait till Nana sends him some gold.

Several weeks ago I wrote a stern letter to John via email demanding my money back, or I would be forced to take him to court. John then became deadly silent. I emailed John to tell him if he does not respond I will have to tell his fiancé what he did to me. In time I told her and they broke up.

So now the question is, do I have enough emails which John admits to owing me the money, along with uncle Waldo who saw me give John the money, to pay a lawyer to represent me and take John to court? You know when supposedly best friends help one another, rarely is there a written IOU, just a handshake... so all I have are these emails, several dozen, repeatedly speaking about the money I gave John and his responses that he will make everything good in time... well my patience has run out and I need to do something.

Do I have a case? Or should I chalk this one up to being stupid?

Thanks.

[Fr_Chuck]

One of the oldest scams in the world. Most likely he did the same to 10 or 12 people that few days. I doubt he was ever a real friend ( sorry ) but just someone who may have taken months to set up a scam with you.

The issue is that basically this was a illegal purchase of Gold and the since the entire deal is suspect, you can not sue a partner in a illegal activity.

Also I doubt you know his real name, and soon he will be gone with another name, and more.

If anything the day it happened you report HIM to the police as part of this fraud

But this is the oldest scam in the book, esp as soon as the Ghana was named. There never was gold and was never going to be a sale.

[decarlo123]

I think john and his uncle are scammers. And aunt nana. I've meet someone from ghana I don't know if all the people there are schemers but this one was. I think you have a case if you can get him before he returns to ghana. The emails is proof. For future references never trust anyone with just their word. Always get everything in writing. Just because you wouldn't have done that to him doesn't mean he would'nt do it to youu!!

[Gold scam]

One of the oldest scams in the world. Most likely he did the same to 10 or 12 people that few days. I doubt he was ever a real friend ( sorry ) but just someone who may have taken months to set up a scam with you.



Thanks for the ultra fast reply. But I take issue with your responses. First, it is 100% legal to buy gold from anyone in the US, no mater how it arrives, especially gold dust. I know since I am a registered buyer and seller at our local gold refinery.

I don't think John would have spent so much time and lavished so much money on his fiancé just to get on my good side of trust.

Before we introduced our friend to John, I did a through check on John and his family and even the art work all checked out. John also has a business in Miami under his name and that checked out too. So John N.T. is his real name and he has a real business and a real home.

Since I worked in Africa for ten years I still have many contacts there and to this day I am still doing business in Ghana, DR Congo, South Africa, Guinea, and Zambia.

All in all, I think now that John has some polar disorder...a lot of feedback from his fiancé...and I think his judgement is at times severely affected. Especially since he is a born again Christian and he takes his beliefs to the extreme.

But maybe you are right in some respects. I'd still like to get some feedback on whether or not I can sue John. I don't want to waste more money on a lawyer when sites like this can give me a heads up on which direction to go. $18,000 is a big pile of money to walk away from. Thanks.

The issue is that basically this was a illegal purchase of Gold and the since the entire deal is suspect, you can not sue a partner in a illegal activity.

Also I doubt you know his real name, and soon he will be gone with another name, and more.

If anything the day it happened you report HIM to the police as part of this fraud

But this is the oldest scam in the book, esp as soon as the Ghana was named. There never was gold and was never going to be a sale.

Thanks for the ultra fast reply. But I take issue with your responses. First, it is 100% legal to buy gold from anyone in the US, no mater how it arrives, especially gold dust. I know since I am a registered buyer and seller at our local gold refinery.

I don't think John would have spent so much time and lavished so much money on his fiancé just to get on my good side of trust.

Before we introduced our friend to John, I did a through check on John and his family and even the art work all checked out. John also has a business in Miami under his name and that checked out too. So John N.T. is his real name and he has a real business and a real home.

Since I worked in Africa for ten years I still have many contacts there and to this day I am still doing business in Ghana, DR Congo, South Africa, Guinea, and Zambia.

All in all, I think now that John has some polar disorder... a lot of feedback from his fiancé... and I think his judgement is at times severely affected. Especially since he is a born again Christian and he takes his beliefs to the extreme.

But maybe you are right in some respects. I'd still like to get some feedback on whether I can sue John. I don't want to waste more money on a lawyer when sites like this can give me a heads up on which direction to go. $18,000 is a big pile of money to walk away from. Thanks.

[J_9]

Nana from Ghana? Really?

You've been scammed.

Ghana Gold Scams | Gold Scams Home

Gold scam exposed in Ghana « Anil Machado's Blog

[Gold scam]

I think john and his uncle are scammers. and aunt nana. I've meet someone from ghana i dont know if all the people their are schemers but this one was. I think you have a case if you can get him before he returns to ghana. the emails is proof. for future references never trust anyone with just their word. always get everything in writing. just because you wouldn't have done that to him doesn't mean he would'nt do it to youu!!!!!!!!!

Now the question rests on if a lawyer will take my case and how much it will cost me... and the chances of winning.

After this I even ask my wife for a receipt now.

[Gold scam]

Nana from Ghana? Really?

You've been scammed.

Ghana Gold Scams | Gold Scams Home

Gold scam exposed in Ghana « Anil Machado's Blog

After this event I read up on these scams till my eyes bleed. It's just that I have known John for over 3 years and he always did right by me. I never figured he would let his guard down to a scammer... let alone him being a scammer... it hurt for a long time, but now I just want to get my money back if I can. Thanks.

[Gold scam]

I think john and his uncle are scammers. and aunt nana. I've meet someone from ghana i dont know if all the people their are schemers but this one was. I think you have a case if you can get him before he returns to ghana. the emails is proof. for future references never trust anyone with just their word. always get everything in writing. just because you wouldn't have done that to him doesn't mean he would'nt do it to youu!!!!!!!!!

Which kind of lawyer should I seek out... civil suit? Can I also get pain and suffering he caused?

[J_9]

You would need to seek an attorney versed in international law

[Gold scam]

You would need to seek an attorney versed in international law

Not sure why I need an international attorney, both John and I are Americans, the deal happened in the States... it really has nothing to do with anyone in Ghana. Thanks.

[J_9]

Where did the gold dust come from? Who did it come from?

[excon]

Hello G:

Something's funny with your story. 25 kilograms of gold is approximately 1,540 ounces. At today's price, that's more than $2.6 MILLION.. You said something about it being available for $100,000. That just doesn't happen.

excon

[Gold scam]

Hello G:

Something's funny with your story. 25 kilograms of gold is approximately 1,540 ounces. At today's price, that's more than $2.6 MILLION.. You said something about it being available for $100,000. That just doesn't happen.

excon

Over the years I have known John he makes this trip once a year to NJ to meet up with the courier from his friend Nana and comes back with kilos of gold. He pays the courier for his delivery and when he gets the gold back to Miami he smelts it and assays it and gets a 10% discount on London spot for that day and wires the balance back to Ghana. So John makes from $100,000 to $200,000 each year on this deal.