Rust Rare Coin in Utah Accused of Running Silver Ponzi

Welcome to the Precious Metals Bug Forums

Welcome to the PMBug forums - a watering hole for folks interested in gold, silver, precious metals, sound money, investing, market and economic news, central bank monetary policies, politics and more. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Why not register an account and join the discussions? When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no Google ads, market data/charts, access to trade/barter with the community and much more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

11C1P

Yellow Jacket
Messages
1,148
Reaction score
227
Points
188
Location
North Dakota
.

I don't know why people keep falling for these. If you don't have the PM under your own physical control (boating accidents aside) you don't own anything but paper even more worthless than the fiat currency we use to exchange republik kredits with.
.

Authorities say ponzi scheme at Rust Rare Coin in Utah took hundreds of victims for $170 million

"SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSTU) — Authorities have filed a civil enforcement action against Rust Rare Coin and its owner after they say a ponzi scheme defrauded hundreds of people out of $170 million over several years.

In a press release issued Friday morning, Gaylen Dean Rust and Rust Rare Coin, Inc. of Layton and Salt Lake City are accused of defrauding at least 200 people from Utah and at least 16 other states.

The scheme netted at least $170 million since 2013 and may have been operating since 2008. The press release states Rust attempted to solicit new customers in the scheme as recently as October 8 of this year.

“As alleged, for at least a decade, the Defendants defrauded their friends, customers, and business associates out of more than $170 million,” stated James McDonald, Director of Enforcement for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “The Defendants allegedly concealed their fraud with false account statements and Ponzi payments; however, their scheme was brought to light through the combined efforts of the CFTC and our law enforcement partners.”

A judge froze the assets involved Thursday.

The complaint alleges that Rust defrauded friends, customers and business associates through a ponzi scheme involving an alleged “Silver Pool”.

Investors were told they were buying into a share of a pool that purchased precious metals when prices were low and sold them when prices were high. Rust allegedly promised returns of 20 to 25 percent per year and provided false documentation to back up his claims.

Rust also told investors the Silver Pool had about $80 million worth of silver stockpiled at various locations.

Prosecutors claim Rust did not spend the money on silver but instead used that incoming money to pay off earlier investors in the ponzi scheme and for personal expenses.

At this point it does not appear any criminal charges have been filed, but state and federal authorities are pursuing civil remedies.

The action is being brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Securities through its Attorney General."


.

Here's their website - http://www.rustcoin.com

.
 
Hahahahahaha Just like Hans Tuulving. That guy got away with it for a long time too.
 
The "silver pool" described in OP is more akin to these bullion trading clubs/exchanges than a mail order dealer like Tulving (was). I don't really understand the allure of unallocated accounts anyway. If you are buying PMs for monetary/currency insurance, you want physical in hand (or allocated physical at a vault you trust). If you want to trade the PM prices, I would think ETFs would be a safer vehicle.
 
probably still a better bet than gold but I aint selling any gold to buy even more silver ...........
 
Update on story in the OP:
 
I read the first part, but did not finish. It looks like simple fraud.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…