Ormond Beach, FL - The Volusia Sheriff's Office (VSO) is warning residents about a new twist on a common scam where scam artists are sending Uber drivers and other couriers to collect cash from unsuspecting victims.
Investigators say they have had three separate cases involving this type of scam, with a fourth that was just recently reported to the Ormond Beach Police Department.
In the scam, a caller will contact the victim and claim that a family member was just in a crash, was just arrested, or is in some kind of legal trouble, and needs thousands of dollars. Sometimes, a second caller might make contact with the victim to pose as an attorney, a law enforcement officer or some other official. The victims—who are generally senior citizens—then give in, agree to get cash, and hand over the money to a driver who shows up at their home.
In one recent case, investigators were able to find a suspect thanks to surveillance footage that managed to capture a money drop-off in Orlando. In the video, an Uber driver can be seen handing the suspect $17,500 of a 78-year-old DeLand woman's money. The VSO says the Uber driver in this case has been extremely cooperative with detectives and has not been charged.
According to a release from the sheriff's office, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect seen in the video arriving and leaving on foot.
Anyone with information on this case, or any other case, is asked to call 386-254-1537. Those who wish to stay anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS or via the P3 Tips app to potentially qualify for a reward of up to $5,000.
