The Grants Pass Police Department received a report of stolen gold from a local resident through a scam.
Because of the value, the case was turned over to the Grants Pass Police Major Crimes Unit. Through a lengthy and complex investigation, Jing Chen, a 35-year-old male from California, was arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Theft. Jail logs show he was later released per a court order.
The loss to the victim is more than $200,000 in gold. The investigation is still active. No further information will be provided at this time.
Police are reminding citizens to be cautious when receiving suspicious phone calls, texts, or emails. It is important to take additional steps to verify the messages' contents before responding or taking action.
Should you receive a fraudulent message, please report it to Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260.
