Two men charged after reported gold scam sting in Watertown
Two men were arrested and charged with felony attempted grand larceny in connection with a reported scheme to obtain gold from an elderly Watertown woman, according to information submitted to ClickNNY.
By the ClickNNY North Country Desk
Two men have been charged with a felony count of second-degree attempted grand larceny following an arrest in Watertown, according to information submitted to ClickNNY. The submission states the men, ages 43 and 35, were arraigned in city court Thursday afternoon and are now in federal custody while the case is investigated.
According to the submission, the case began with an Aug. 5 fraud complaint involving an elderly Watertown woman who was told over the phone that her identity had been compromised and that she should convert her assets into gold coins and bars. She bought and turned over $157,000 worth of gold in June, then was asked for more, and a family member's warning led to law enforcement being notified, according to initial reports. Multiple agencies then coordinated a week-long operation in which packages of imitation coins were used during a scheduled exchange, according to initial reports. One man was arrested as he carried a package to a vehicle at 1255 Arsenal Street and a second man was arrested in the vehicle, which was impounded pending a search warrant, according to the submission. None of this has been verified by ClickNNY.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.
ClickNNY Election 2026 · Showdown in Jefferson County
Ousted by his own party, still on the ballot: inside Jefferson County’s three-way fight for power
Knocked off his own party's line in June, an incumbent refuses to quit. A 24-year legislator faces his first opponent in years. And a challenger vows to break up a board with no Democrats. Here's who is fighting for your vote on Nov. 3.
ClickNNY Guide · Community
Protecting hibernating bats in St. Lawrence County: what to know
New York residents, including those in St. Lawrence County, can help protect hibernating bats by avoiding restricted caves and mines, limiting tree removal during the winter, and using trained wildlife professionals for bats in homes.
ClickNNY Special Report · Technology
The Good. The Bad. The Rogue.
AI agents are here, working for us, being used against us and, it appears, sometimes doing what nobody told them to. What it means for North Country jobs, money and privacy, and what is still unanswered.