Accused scammer from Texas arrested in Maine sting operation

BRISTOL, Maine (WMTW) - A Texas man is being held at a Maine jail after authorities claimed he tried to scam a person out of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gold.

Gautam Harkhani, 35, of Erwin, was arrested Friday as part of a sting operation, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office said a few weeks ago, the daughter of an older person discovered the scam and reported it to authorities.

The woman told officers her parent received a call from a man claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission, and that he identified himself by using the name of a current FTC commissioner.

Officials said the scammer put pressure on the victim by telling them there were warrants out for their arrest on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. The scammer then convinced the victim they could satisfy the warrants by paying with gold.

The Sheriff’s Office said the victim ordered $261,000 worth of gold from a legitimate online vendor and when they told the scammer they had purchased the gold, the scammer arranged for someone to come to their home and pick it up.

The victim was in the process of making a second gold purchase worth $267,000 when their family found out what was happening and stopped the transaction, according to authorities. The Sheriff’s Office said it was notified of the scam at this point.

The Sheriff’s Office worked with the FBI and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency to create a false transaction in an effort to convince the scammer a new purchase of gold had been made.

Fake documents were sent to the scammer and authorities began a two-day surveillance.

The Sheriff’s Office said Harkhani was arrested when he came to pick up the gold he thought had been purchased.

Harkhani was charged with theft by deception and criminal conspiracy. He is being held on $50,000 bail at the Twin Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and asked anyone with information to call Detective Jared Mitkus at 207-882-7332 or email him at jmitkus@lincolnso.me. People who wish to provide an anonymous tip can text the keyword “LTIP” and their message to 847411.

Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett said law enforcement and government officials will never call people to demand immediate payment for any reason. Brackett encouraged people who receive any calls that are out of the ordinary to hang up and report them to authorities.