Fake Apple Pay Alert, Fake 'FTC Case Number,' Gold Pickup: New York Man Indicted as Alleged Courier

Published Oct. 30, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

It starts with a text message: an Apple Pay charge has been "detected," and here is a number to call to check it. According to a federal grand jury indictment in Virginia, people who made that call were walked step by step into emptying their bank accounts, first into cryptocurrency and then into gold bullion handed to a courier at their door.

Keyong Chen, who according to WTKR lived in New York City, is charged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property [1][3]. The indictment alleges Chen was the courier a co-conspirator referenced to victims.

Important: Chen has been charged, not convicted. An indictment is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. WTKR reported that Chen "has denied knowing what was inside the packages he received or the identities of those directing him to pickup locations," and that his attorney declined to comment [3].

How the scheme allegedly worked

The indictment, returned July 22, 2026, alleges a conspiracy that ran from about April 2025 through about June 2026. Its stated purpose was "to obtain alternative forms of currency such as cryptocurrency or gold bullion by fraudulently misrepresenting factual circumstances to victims whom they would text and call" [1]. According to the indictment:

1. The fake alert. A text "purported to be from an unknown individual, which stated that there was an Apple Pay transaction detected," and gave a phone number "for verification."
2. The scare. The person who answered told the victim there was suspicious activity in one of their bank accounts, "including possible transfers of funds abroad associated with child sexual abuse material."
3. The official-sounding paperwork. The caller asked which banks the victim used, generated what was described as an "FTC case number," and transferred the victim to a supposed "security official" at the victim's own bank.
4. The money moves. The fake security officer said money had to be moved "to void a suspicious transaction." Victims were told to buy cryptocurrency and send it to the conspirators.
5. The gold. Victims were then told that "in order to gain a new Social Security number," they had to withdraw more money, buy gold bullion, "and wait for a courier to pick up the bullion."
6. The pressure. Callers gave a badge number, quoted federal statutes the victim had supposedly violated, and told victims not to talk to anyone about their case; "in exchange, the conspirator would not issue an arrest warrant."

None of the callers is named. The indictment refers to them only as co-conspirators "unknown to the Grand Jury," and WTKR noted that it "does not identify other individuals allegedly involved in the operation" [3].

The sting with fake gold

According to the indictment, victims had already handed over about $20,000 in cryptocurrency, about $60,000 in gold bullion and $200,000 in gold bullion on different dates before they contacted law enforcement [1]. WTKR reported that the investigation began after victims in Virginia Beach contacted Homeland Security Investigations [3].

On May 9, 2025, the indictment says, law enforcement gave the victims fake gold bullion to hand over. Prosecutors allege Chen picked up the package, which was supposed to contain $200,000 in gold. Agents "watched Chen put the package of fake gold in the car, followed Chen, and stopped Chen" the same day. The indictment says Chen told officers he was driving to Flushing, New York, and it charges an attempted interstate transport of purported gold "from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Flushing, New York" [1]. WTKR, citing court records, reported that authorities followed Chen for about 35 miles along Virginia's Eastern Shore and arrested him after a brief pursuit [3].

The indictment also says that in or about April and May 2025, Chen "was the courier whom a co-conspirator unknown to the Grand Jury referenced" [1].

The person charged and his status

The court docket shows that the indictment was sealed until Chen's arrest. He was arrested in the Southern District of Florida on Oct. 2, 2026, and the case was unsealed on Oct. 15, 2026 [2]. WTKR reported that, according to court records, Chen is a citizen of both the United States and China [3]. His age was not given in the sources we reviewed.

Count one charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349). Count two charges conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property (18 U.S.C. § 371). The indictment also seeks forfeiture [1]. The CourtListener docket we reviewed was last updated Oct. 16, 2026, and shows nothing after the Oct. 15 unsealing: no plea, trial date or detention ruling. Status pending.

We found no U.S. Attorney's Office press release on this case. This article relies on the indictment, the docket and WTKR's report.

Red flags

These are general warning signs of this kind of scheme; not every one is alleged in this case.

• An unexpected "charge detected" text that tells you to call a number. Check purchases in your Apple Wallet, bank app or card statement yourself. Don't call the number in the message.
• A caller who links your account to child sexual abuse material or other crimes. The indictment says a caller described possible transfers "associated with child sexual abuse material." Real banks and agencies do not make accusations like this by phone.
• An "FTC case number." The FTC does not open cases over the phone and then send you to your bank's "security team."
• Any instruction to buy gold or crypto to "protect" your money or get a "new Social Security number." No agency or bank does this.
• "Don't tell anyone, or we'll issue a warrant." Secrecy demands are a hallmark of scams.
• A courier coming to collect valuables. Legitimate agencies and banks never send someone to pick up gold or cash.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Hang up. Call your bank using the number on your card or statement.
2. Tell someone you trust, and call your local police. In this case, victims reaching out to law enforcement led to the sting [3].
3. Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Save the text, the phone numbers, and any receipts from gold dealers or crypto ATMs.
4. Age 60 or older? The DOJ Elder Justice Hotline is 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11).

The FBI has warned specifically about scammers who use couriers to collect cash and precious metals after tech support and government impersonation calls [4].

Case status (as of Oct. 30, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 30, 2026	Source
Keyong Chen	Federal, E.D. Va. (Norfolk), No. 2:26-cr-00072-RAJ-DEM	Indicted July 22, 2026 (wire fraud conspiracy; conspiracy to transport stolen property); arrested in S.D. Fla. Oct. 2; case unsealed Oct. 15; docket last updated Oct. 16 shows no plea, trial date or detention ruling. Status pending.	[1], [2], [3]

Chen has not been convicted and is presumed innocent. Statuses can change.

Sources

1. Indictment, United States v. Keyong Chen, No. 2:26-cr-00072-RAJ-DEM (E.D. Va., filed July 22, 2026), Doc. 3 (redacted copy), via CourtListener RECAP. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.600997/gov.uscourts.vaed.600997.3.0.pdf
2. Docket, United States v. Chen, No. 2:26-cr-00072 (E.D. Va.), CourtListener, accessed Oct. 30, 2026. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74974488/united-states-v-chen/
3. Margaret Kavanagh, "Feds allege scam stole gold, crypto from older adults nationwide," WTKR News 3, Oct. 29, 2026. https://www.wtkr.com/investigations/gold-crypto-scam-oct-29-2026
4. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, "Scammers Use Couriers to Retrieve Cash and Precious Metals from Victims of Tech Support and Government Impersonation Scams," Alert I-012924-PSA, Jan. 29, 2024. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240129

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