<h1>Gold futures top $4,000 amid shutdown, tariffs and rate-cut bets; regulators warn of volatility, scams and mining risks</h1> Gold futures have reached record highs above USD 4,000 per ounce amid economic uncertainty driven by a US government shutdown, tariff policy by the administration, and expectations of further interest-rate cuts, prompting investor flight to safe-haven assets. Regulators have cautioned that precious metals are volatile and investors should guard against scams and counterfeits. Legal and regulatory risks highlighted include market volatility and consumer-protection concerns overseen by commodity regulators, trade-policy and labor impacts from the shutdown, and environmental and public-health liabilities tied to illegal artisanal gold mining using mercury.