Scammer steals $30 million from individuals by selling them paper gold that his firm never had.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/confessions-gold-scammer/story?id=14824124
Buy from reputable firms or your local dealer and take delivery instead.
Always take physical delivery. Buying a paper certificate that says you own X amount stored "securely" anywhere but in your safe is a fools game.