SCAM BILKS HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP WOMAN OUT OF $70K

State police are investigating a scam that bilked a Hempfield Township woman out of $70,000.  KDKA-TV reports that the victim, an 83-year-old woman was lead to believe that she was being investigated by the Social Security Administration for money laundering and drug sales.  She told troopers that she purchased over $67,000 in gold bars and $2500 in Visa Gift cards to pay off the scammers to clear her of the alleged crimes.  She was told to send some of the gold bars across the country and handed the rest of the gold over to a man in a parking lot in Greensburg.  Investigators say that this was part of an elaborate scheme, and they warn that agencies will never ask for prepaid cards or gold bars for payment.  Anyone who was scammed in this way should call police at 724-832-3288.