VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Two men were arrested this week after an elderly man was scammed out of thousands of dollars, according to Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
In a release, Chitwood said that the 85-year-old Deltona man withdrew $6,000 after getting a call from someone claiming to be his bank.
The money was then picked up by an Uber driver and delivered to an address in Daytona Beach, the sheriff added.
“The next day, when the scammer called back asking for more money, (Financial Crimes Unit) detectives prepared a fake package that was picked up and delivered to the same address,” the release reads.
Jo’vani Newton, 22, of Miramar, accepted the package, causing him to be quickly apprehended by deputies on Thursday, the sheriff’s office revealed.
Meanwhile, Michael Shackelford, 20, of Daytona Beach, was determined to be the driver of the black Hyundai Elantra that dropped Newton off at the pickup site, deputies said. He was later arrested at an apartment complex.
Now, both men face charges of obtaining property by fraud, and Newton faces an additional charge of obstruction without violence. The two suspects were later released on bond.
“The FCU has learned the account that ordered the Uber is tied to several other similar scams throughout the country,” Chitwood concluded. “It’s believed the group is based out of South Florida.”