Norway gold scam involves victims abandoning assets in forests

A novel financial scam is targeting savers in Norway, where fraudsters are inducing victims to purchase physical gold and subsequently abandon it in public spaces, such as forests or parks.

According to Finans Norge, the banking industry lobby, the scheme often begins with a sales call from individuals posing as precious metal retailers. After the purchase, scammers claim a courier will collect the gold. When the courier fails to appear, victims are instructed to leave the metal in a predetermined public location under the false pretense that it will be kept secure while its value increases.

Some instances involve “pig-butchering” tactics, where scammers build long-term trust through fake romantic interests before requesting the transaction. Fraud operations have been reported in Oslo, surrounding municipalities, and Bergen. While the total amount stolen remains undisclosed, the anonymity of gold makes recovery and tracking extremely difficult for authorities.