Marion County authorities break up major cyberfraud operation

Attorney General James Uthmeier says investigators have broken up a cyberfraud operation that bilked a senior citizen out of $450,000.

Uthmeier in a news conference detailed an investigation that found an online scam where the victim lost that money “in a matter of weeks.” Uthmeier added that as the Marion County Sheriff’s Office looked into the case involving online dating websites, they found a “digital wallet” that accounted for a substantial number of rip-offs through cryptocurrency.

“We were able to identify over $5.4 million related to people that were scammed through these dating websites,” Uthmeier said. “Most of these Floridians, we’re going to get their money back.”

Uthmeier said he was surprised at the breadth of the cyberfraud operation that involved victims in Florida and Massachusetts.

“This is the largest single cyberfraud operation not just in the state of Florida, but among all the states,” he said.

Uthmeier credited the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for developing cyberfraud investigative techniques. He encouraged other law enforcement agencies to contact Marion County investigators to learn their approaches and apply them.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said the investigation showed that what appeared to be an online relationship turned into a bogus investment solicitation.

“It truly angers me that there are people in this world that have no problem making victims of citizens in our community,” Woods said. “Many times, these are senior citizens. Cyber scams and fraud may never go away but, in Marion County and in Florida, we will come after those who choose to do this.”

Investigators found victims in six different Florida counties and in Massachusetts. Some $700,000 recovered from the scams will be returned to Florida victims and $1.3 million will be returned to victims in Massachusetts.

Uthmeier said online dating websites are now becoming gateways for scams. He said artificial intelligence is being used to generate bogus photos to trick seniors into believing they’re engaging in online relationships.

Woods added that seniors who might become suspicious or even have transferred some money should call law enforcement immediately if they have any doubts and not be afraid or ashamed.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Uthmeier said.