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Nigam Bhatt arrested in New Jersey for gold scam
Authorities believe Bhatt has duped several unsuspecting senior citizen victims and urged others to come forward.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 09, Apr 2026
- 01:52 EDT
- 20
Nigam Bhatt / Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office
Nigam Bhatt, a 25-year-old Indian man living in New Jersey, was arrested on charges related to a gold scam April 7.
Bhatt, who is in the United States on a work visa, is accused of calling unsuspecting senior citizen victims and telling them their bank accounts and Social Security benefits have been frozen and can be released only in exchange for gold.
Upon investigation, detectives identified several victims, including one in the Kentwood area.
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On April 7, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, took Bhatt into custody as he was attempting to collect more than $800,000 in gold from a victim.
Bhatt has been arrested on charges of extortion.
In light of the incident, Sheriff Gerald Sticker, in a statement, reminded residents to be suspicious of calls about their financial accounts.
He continued, “You’re advised to hang up and call your banking institution to verify the caller’s claims. Residents are also advised to never provide personal or financial information over the phone and never send money or valuables to strangers online, by mail or through suspicious meetups.”
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said the case remains under investigation and the crimes are widespread, encouraging other potential victims to come forward.
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