Westborough police are searching for a Worcester man who allegedly tricked three men into purchasing counterfeit "gold dust" for $306,000 in July.

Joseph Boakye, 31, has been identified as one of two suspects in a "gold dust scam" police began investigating in July. Police identified Boakye through security footage taken at the time of the incident, police said in a news release.

On July 17, Westborough police launched an investigation searching for two men who allegedly sold counterfeit gold to three men at the Extended Stay America hotel on Computer Drive.

Three men told police they met a pair who offered to sell them 15 kilograms of gold dust in exchange for $306,000. After testing the product for authenticity the three men paid $26,000 in cash and transferred $280,000 into a Bank of America account, police said.

After showing the two men proof of the transfer they received a locked Sentry safe containing what they believed was 15 kilograms of gold dust. Police say that Boakye and an accomplice told their alleged victims they would receive the combination to the safe after the transfer was approved.

Two days later, after exchanging emails and being unable to open the safe the men called a locksmith. They found it was counterfeit gold, police said.

Police ask anyone with information about Boakye to contact detectives at 508-475-4846.