Norwegians are increasingly falling victim to a scam that involves purchasing gold and subsequently leaving the precious metal in public parks or forests, according to data from Finans Norge.
The fraudulent scheme typically involves scammers convincing victims to buy gold with the false promise that the fraudsters will keep it safe on their behalf. According to an interview with ABC Nyheter, an in-person meeting is arranged between the victim and the scammer. The scammer then cancels or claims they are unable to attend, encouraging the victim to leave the gold in a public location.
Some victims have been targeted using methods commonly referred to as “pig-butchering” techniques. These tactics involve fake romantic interests and extended periods of trust-building before the scammers make their request for the gold. Because gold offers a relative degree of anonymity, tracking and recovering the proceeds from these crimes remains difficult.
Similar financial crimes have also been recorded internationally. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) 2025 Internet Crime Report detailed roughly 725 complaints and $311.8 million in losses stemming from similar “gold courier scams.” While those incidents share structural similarities with the Norwegian cases, victims in the United States typically meet directly with a courier rather than leaving the assets unattended in public areas.
