Windermere police seek woman who collected $18,400 in fake FBI scam targeting 82-year-old

Police in Windermere, in Orange County, are trying to identify a woman who they say collected $18,400 in cash from an 82-year-old resident on Tuesday, Oct. 13, while pretending to work for the FBI.

According to a Windermere Police Department release reported by WKMG, the victim first got a phone call from at least one person who claimed to be an FBI agent looking into fraud on her bank account. The caller set up a pickup, and a woman presenting herself as an FBI courier then came to the victim's home and left with a shoebox holding the money.

Police said the woman arrived and departed in a silver Toyota.

Anyone who recognizes her can call Sgt. John Allen of Windermere police at 407-909-5306; his email is jallen@windermere.gov. Police have not released further details.

How to spot the scam

In its guidance on government impersonators, the Federal Trade Commission says it will never instruct anyone to pull out cash or buy gold and hand it over to another person. Calls like this can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as well as to local police.

Sources

clickorlando.com

consumer.ftc.gov