The scam library
How gold scams actually work — so you can see them coming.
Gold itself isn't the scam. The risk is in the sales tactics. Here are the most common ones, explained in plain English — what they are, how to spot them, and what a legitimate dealer does instead.
General consumer education. These explainers describe industry-wide tactics in the abstract and do not attribute any of them to a specific named company.
The Numismatic & Collectible Coin Upsell
Being steered out of standard bullion and into high-markup “rare” or collectible coins for a retirement account.
Read the explainer →02“Free Silver” & Bonus-Metal Promotions
Headline “free” metal offers that are quietly funded by a higher markup baked into the rest of your order.
Read the explainer →03High-Pressure & Fear-Based Sales Tactics
Manufactured urgency, fear scripts, and “act today” pressure designed to rush a retirement decision.
Read the explainer →04Fake or Unapproved “Storage” Arrangements
Vague, unnamed, or non-existent vaulting instead of metal actually held at an IRS-approved depository.
Read the explainer →05The “Home Storage Gold IRA” Myth
Marketing that promises you can legally keep IRA gold at home — a pitch that can trigger taxes and penalties.
Read the explainer →06Fake or Hidden Buyback Promises
“Guaranteed buyback” language that turns out to be vague, conditional, or punitive when it’s time to sell.
Read the explainer →07Spot-Price Bait-and-Switch
An attractive “at spot” or low-premium quote that quietly balloons through fees, spreads, or a product swap.
Read the explainer →Keep reading