Scammer Arrested

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a financial fraud involving an 81 year old Lincoln County resident. During the month of September, the female victim reported being defrauded of $284,000 after being contacted by a scammer posing as a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent. The suspect convinced the victim to convert her savings into gold and “surrender it for safekeeping." This tactic is part of a broader scam occurring nationwide with multiple incidents having already occurred in Oregon.

FBI agents traced the scam to a subject based in India who communicates directly with victims and uses couriers to collect the gold. Deputies learned law enforcement recently apprehended two of these couriers in the Kansas City area who were associated with the same network involved in the Lincoln County investigation.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, an arrest operation involving multiple partner agencies, was conducted at a meeting site in the Toledo area. At approximately 7:00 PM, the suspected courier arrived and conducted counter-surveillance before the exchange could occur. Authorities located the suspect vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Both occupants were detained. The involved vehicle was identified as an Uber, and the driver, who was unaware of the scam, fully cooperated with investigators.

The passenger, who was found to be the courier, identified as 20 year old Tejveer Kumar from San Bernardino, California, was arrested and booked on charges of Attempted Aggravated Theft and Conspiracy. Kumar was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this investigation by the FBI and the Newport, Lincoln City and Toledo Police Departments.

This scam further highlights the importance of fraud prevention and education. The Sheriff’s Office recommends taking time to review scam prevention tips, including protection of personal information. Always verify with legitimate agencies before sharing sensitive information or transferring funds of any kind.