This week, our Office of Statewide Prosecution announced the arrest of six fraudsters for stealing nearly $250,000 from Florida seniors through grandparent scams.

The defendants contacted seniors posing as lawyers or legal representatives of one of the victim’s grandchildren. The fraudsters told the targets that the grandchildren needed bail money after being arrested for hitting a pregnant woman with a vehicle, then arranged for the victim to send payment.

These fraudsters knew that most grandparents would do anything to help a grandchild in need, and through a convincing imposter scheme they used fear and family to extort Florida seniors—stealing nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Working with our great law enforcement partners in South Florida, we were able to shut down this far-reaching grandparent scheme and now the six fraudsters will have to answer for their crimes.

All six defendants face multiple first-degree felonies, including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, criminal use of personal identification and more.

Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and it’s important our citizens know how to protect themselves.

I encourage Floridians to visit MyFloridaLegal.com/ScamsAtAGlance to view our free Scams at a Glance resources about common and emerging scams. 

From imposter scams and tech support scams to various utility schemes, these downloadable brochures provide tips to avoid falling victim to fraud and where to report it.

By staying informed and well-equipped against suspicious activity, you can avoid scams, hold onto your hard-earned money and help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.