MEDIA NOTE: To hear audio from the victim for news coverage of this case, please click HERE. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted his experience with the scammers, the pressure tactics they employed, and his advice for others. Detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deerfield Beach District arrested a 22-year-old man last week for exploiting an elderly victim as part of a bank scam that cost the victim tens of thousands of dollars. Scams like this one have become alarmingly common in Broward County and throughout the country, and BSO detectives hope that this victim’s story will help prevent others from falling prey. In the Deerfield Beach incident, BSO detectives received a tip from the South Florida Fraud Task Force/FBI. Through the following BSO investigation, detectives discovered that the victim received a call from someone claiming to be from Wells Fargo. The caller informed the victim that someone was attempting to withdraw $20,000 from his account. At that point, another individual joined the call, posing as an “investigator.” This person instructed the victim to withdraw over $20,000 in cash and send it to an address in the 200 block of Northeast 40th Street in Deerfield Beach. Unfortunately, the victim complied and sent the money. After beginning their investigation, BSO detectives traced the funds to Omari Burke. Detectives report that Burke took the above photo and shared it on social media, boasting about the money he obtained from the scam. Burke was arrested at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Sept. 16 on charges of obtaining property over $20,000 by fraud, money laundering, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, defrauding a financial institution, and grand theft involving a person 65 years of age or older. Detectives suspect that Burke and others may have exploited this organized bank fraud scheme to target senior citizens on other occasions. The investigation into these incidents remains active and ongoing. These types of scams can take various forms, and it’s crucial for residents to stay alert. Please read and follow the tips below to help you avoid becoming a victim. • If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a bank employee reporting possible fraud against your account or potential cloning of your debit card, immediately hang up and contact your bank directly using the number listed on your bank statement or the bank’s website. • Do not provide unknown callers with any personal information, PIN, items, or money. • A financial institution will never ask you to withdraw funds from your bank account and place them in an Uber. • An employee of a bank will not request that you give your debit card and PIN to a ride-share driver. • No government agencies, including law enforcement, will call you asking for money. • If you receive a call that appears to be a scam, it likely is. Don’t succumb to high-pressure tactics; take a moment to breathe and hang up the phone. After terminating the call, reach out to your local law enforcement agency to report the incident. • Be cautious of phishing emails and avoid clicking on links in emails. If you reside in a BSO jurisdiction and believe you have fallen victim to a similar scam, call BSO’s non-emergency number at 954-764-HELP (4357).
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