In Volusia County, a resident received a deceptive phone call alleging she had won a hefty sum of a million dollars. This news was confirmed as a fraudulent act by the authorities from the county sheriff’s office. The victim, an elderly woman in her eighties residing in Daytona Beach Shores, was exposed to this fraudulent activity in the month of June. She was led to believe that she had secured a million-dollar prize from Publisher’s Clearing House.
However, there was a catch to receive this purported lottery amount. The supposed lottery organizers insisted on her forwarding a cashier’s check of $20,000. To gather the demanded sum, the victim attempted to visit two distinct branches of Truist banks in her neighborhood.
Each of these banking institutions could rightly identify the scam and proceeded to warn the woman against it. They declined her request to issue the required check. Undeterred, she contacted the fraudsters to inquire about the next steps she needed to pursue after facing the bank’s refusal.
Guided by these scammers, she asserted a third bank that she planned on using the fund to renovate her niece’s kitchen. This excuse allowed her to secure a check for the requested $20,000, which she promptly mailed over to the fraudsters.
Prior to sending the check, she visited a shipping center. An employee at the center also attempted to draw her attention to the scam, however, she ignored his advice. A letter was then certified in which it was stated that the funds she was sending were intended for a kitchen upholstery.
After the money was remitted, the fraudsters contacted the woman once again the following day. This time they claimed to have conducted an accounting review, which led them to the conclusion that an additional sum of $12,500 was required. The victim complied and withdrew the demanded amount.
It wasn’t until the lady mentioned to her son about supposedly winning the million-dollar lottery, that she realized her massive blunder. Both the recipient of her checks and the bank accounts where these were deposited were successfully identified by detectives.
Their investigation led them to two suspects, Shania Baptiste and Neilson Brooks, who were implicated in the fraudulent scheme. When prompted for her statement in respect to the charges levied against her, Baptiste denied her involvement, promising an explanation once she appointed a lawyer.
$20,000 of the unfortunate victim’s lost amount was successfully recovered by the sheriff’s office. Many victims in such incidents are often reluctant to report their situations, fearing the loss of their financial independence.
Citing figures from the previous year, it was reported that residents of Volusia County aged 65 and above were victimized to the tune of roughly $4 million. Moreover, these were only the reported incidents, as many older adults often hesitate to share their experiences due to fear of losing their financial control.
In the case of the abducted elderly woman, authorities are speculating that there might exist another accomplice involved with this particular heist. The locally contained case might just be a small piece within a larger structural operation.
Scams of this nature are rampantly exploited against seniors, often causing distress and significant financial loss. These incidents emphasize the importance of keeping our senior community informed about potential scams.
While the authorities continue their quest to dig out more information on the case, it is a reminder for all to remain skeptical of any such unsolicited ‘too good to be true’ offers. It is advisable to conduct due diligence, and when in doubt, consult with a trusted individual or report to law enforcement bodies immediately.
It remains to be seen how this specific case of elder fraud in Volusia County unfolds. However, it certainly serves as a cautionary tale to us all about the dark side of deceptive practices that target the most vulnerable in our society.