Six suspected fraudsters, accused of stealing more than $250,000 from Florida seniors through “Grandparent scams” are now sitting behind bars.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution announced the arrest of six members of the suspected fraud ring.
According to the AG’s office, the fraudsters targeted elderly individuals, posed as attorneys, and told the victims their grandchildren were arrested after hitting a pregnant woman with a vehicle and needed bail money.
“These fraudsters know 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,” Moody said in a press release.
The six defendants, Jairo Izquierdo, Gennesis Castro, Wendy Angelina Ortiz, Ada Tido, Wandy Castro, and Olfa Cornielle, face multiple first-degree felonies, including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal identification.
Victims have been reported in several counties throughout the state, including southwest Florida.