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Florida woman, 75, lost $25K in a fake sweepstakes - deputies say a New York flight attendant flew in and got onto her Apple Card
AOL.com • • business
Key Points:
- A 75-year-old Florida woman was scammed out of more than $25,000 after a caller impersonating a Publishers Clearing House representative convinced her to pay $500 via gift card to claim a fake prize.
- Destiny Blake, a 24-year-old New York flight attendant, allegedly flew to Florida, gained access to the victim’s Apple Card account by becoming an authorized user, and made nearly $11,000 in fraudulent purchases.
- Blake was arrested on multiple felony charges including organizing a scheme to defraud an elderly victim, fraudulent use of personal identification, and grand theft exceeding $20,000; she was released on a $30,000 bond.
- Investigators warn that legitimate sweepstakes never require winners to pay fees or send gift cards, and advise contacting card issuers directly using official numbers if asked to add someone as an authorized user under suspicious circumstances.
- The case highlights the risks of scams targeting seniors, especially those involving unauthorized credit card use and social engineering tactics to gain trust and access to personal financial information.
