Fake Gold Bar Facebook Scam Leads To Arrest, Wilmington Police Say

WILMINGTON, MA — A man was arrested after police said a Wilmington resident was scammed out of more than $4,000 in a Facebook Marketplace deal involving a fake gold bar.

Police said the victim contacted a seller on Facebook Marketplace who advertised an authentic gold bar for sale. The two met in person, and the victim paid $4,150 for the item.

After the purchase, police said the victim had the bar inspected and learned it was not real gold.
An investigation showed the seller had used a false name.

Officers later arranged another meeting with the seller, who was identified as 21-year-old Keanu Ashtar-Zadeh of Dracut.

Ashtar-Zadeh was arrested without incident. During the arrest, police said they recovered two Florida identification cards with different names.

Ashtar-Zadeh was charged with attempted larceny over $1,200, larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses, identity fraud, and intimidation of a witness or official. Police said he was scheduled to appear in Woburn District Court.

Police warned residents about the hazards of social media transactions: "Wilmington Police would like to remind residents to be cautious when buying items online, especially from strangers. Wilmington Police welcomes residents to meet in the station lobby to conduct in-person transactions with unknown individuals.""