Spanish Fort Woman Scammed Out of $400,000
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
June 17, 2025
SPANISH FORT Ala. A senior citizen living on her retirement funds became the target of a Chinese national who the FBI believes is part of a national gang targeting and scamming elderly persons.
Spanish Fort police said that the man, identified as Xiahezhati Xiaokelaiti, a Chinese national with a revoked student visa contacted the woman saying that she owed money to the US government. Spanish Fort investigators said he did it in three weeks, stealing gold bars and some cash before police were notified.
Chief Barber said the woman was a retired educator and lost almost $400,000 to a scam.
“It’s life-changing when it happens to somebody like that,” said Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber. “Somebody that’s in their retirement years and did so well to save this money. And here in just a matter of weeks, somebody has changed their life.”
He said a man posing as a U.S. Marshal preyed on this elderly woman, demanding a large sum of money.
“We have enough home-grown criminals here, and we don’t need other people coming into our country and victimizing our residents that shouldn’t even be here,” said Barber.
Investigators said Xiaokelaiti told the woman to liquidate her cash into gold bars. They said he met with her four different times at a local business to take the currency.
But eventually, the unidentified woman became suspicious of the “marshal” and called police for help.
Chief Barber said that his department teamed up with the FBI and arrested Xiakeldaiti late Friday afternoon.
Ironically, this was just two days before Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day warning Americans about elder fraud.
Elderly people are victims of similar scams nationwide, often losing their savings and never recovering their money.
It’s not just a local problem; the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports victims lost a total of $219 million in gold bar scams last year.
The FBI said fraud can happen to anyone but offers some tips to help you avoid falling victim.
The FBI said you can verify contact information with the Better Business Bureau, resist the pressure to act quickly, be cautious of unsolicited phone calls or mailings, and never give unverified people your personal information.
If you believe you have been the victim of a similar scam, you should contact your local law enforcement agency or the FBI.
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