New Jersey Man Arrested in Alleged Gold Scam Targeting Elderly Couple

Authorities say the suspect took hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold from the victims.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:03pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a pile of gold coins and jewelry, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the financial exploitation of senior citizens.A recent wave of gold scams targeting senior citizens has exposed the vulnerability of elderly consumers to sophisticated financial fraud schemes.Kentwood Today

A 25-year-old New Jersey man has been arrested and charged with extortion for allegedly scamming an elderly couple in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold. The suspect, Nigam Bhatt, who is in the country on a work visa from India, was taken into custody with the help of the Collin County Sheriff's Office in Texas and the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana.

Why it matters

Crimes targeting the elderly, especially complex financial scams, are a growing concern as fraudsters seek to exploit vulnerable populations. This case highlights the need for greater awareness and protections for senior citizens against these types of predatory schemes.

The details

According to authorities, the scam involved contacting victims, telling them their bank accounts and social security benefits were frozen, and convincing them to exchange gold as a way to release the funds. Collin County detectives initially contacted the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office about the investigation, leading to the arrest of Bhatt as he was about to collect more than $800,000 in gold from the local couple.

  • On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Bhatt was taken into custody before he could collect the gold from the victims.

The players

Nigam Bhatt

A 25-year-old man from Parsippany, New Jersey who is currently in the country on a work visa from India and was arrested for allegedly scamming an elderly couple out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold.

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that collaborated with the Collin County Sheriff's Office in Texas and the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana to arrest Bhatt and investigate the alleged gold scam.

Collin County Sheriff's Office

The Texas law enforcement agency that initially contacted the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office about the investigation into the gold scam operation.

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What they’re saying

“This investigation remains ongoing. If you or anyone you know has fallen victim to a similar scam, contact the TPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 985-902-2088.”

— TPSO, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office

What’s next

The judge will determine whether to grant bail for Nigam Bhatt at a hearing scheduled for next week.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of educating seniors about common financial scams and ensuring they have the resources and support to protect themselves from predatory criminals seeking to exploit their vulnerability. Increased collaboration between law enforcement agencies is also crucial to identifying and stopping these types of complex fraud operations.