Scammers in Norway trick people into buying gold and hiding it in forests

Victims told to leave gold in forests or parks

Residents of Norway are falling victim to a fraud scheme in which scammers convince them to purchase physical gold. The fraudsters promise to keep the gold safe on the victims' behalf.

According to reports from Finans Norge and ABC Nyheter, a meeting is usually scheduled between the victim and the scammer. However, the scammer claims they cannot attend the meeting and instead encourages the victim to leave the gold in a public location, such as a forest or a park.

How the 'pig butchering' tactic works

Some victims are targeted using methods known as 'pig butchering' techniques. This involves scammers building trust over a long period, often by creating fake romantic interests, before finally asking the victim to buy the gold.

Recovering the lost gold is difficult

Once the gold is left in a public area, it is hard to track and recover. The relative anonymity of physical gold makes it difficult for law enforcement to trace the proceeds of the crime.

Similar scams reported in the US

This type of scheme is not unique to Norway. The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report recorded about 725 complaints regarding 'gold courier scams,' resulting in losses of $311.8 million. In the US version of this scam, victims generally meet with a courier instead of leaving the gold in the woods.

Confirming the source of the fraud

• Finans Norge and ABC Nyheter confirmed the specific method used in Norway involving hiding gold in nature.
• The FBI confirmed similar 'gold courier' schemes in the US.
• No specific police report or single case study was provided in the source material to confirm a specific large-scale recovery or arrest.

Sources

• Protos

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