According to investigators, the “grandparent scam,” was used by a man to steal nearly $20,000 from an elderly couple. He tricked rideshare drivers into picking up the money from the victims.
While driving for Lyft, James Elmore received a notification to pick up a package from a residence in southwest Miami-Dade. Upon arrival, an elderly couple requested him to come inside and speak with someone on the phone.
Elmore recalled that he was given clear instructions on the delivery of the package, including the destination and the method of delivery. He was also informed that someone would meet him outside of Ross upon his arrival.
Elmore found the call and request to be peculiar, but he didn’t dwell on it. He proceeded to the Ross parking lot in Hialeah where he met the individual he was supposed to hand over the package to.
Elmore recounted that he had asked the recipient for the name on the package before releasing it to him. According to Elmore, the recipient did not speak much and simply took the package before leaving.
According to the Miami-Dade Police, Agustin Garcia-Marsan was the culprit behind the scam that targeted the elderly couple and Elmore.
As per the investigators, the elderly couple received a call from a person claiming to be their grandson and stating that he was getting arrested. The caller instructed the couple to call an attorney. After receiving the number, the grandfather called it and spoke to a person posing as an attorney. The imposter demanded an immediate payment of $18,500 for the bail bondsman.
According to the arrest report, the couple adhered to the instructions and placed the money in a compact box before handing it over to an unsuspecting rideshare driver who was dispatched to collect it. It was Elmore who happened to be the driver in question.
According to Elmore, the individuals who fell victim to the scam were incredibly kind and unassuming. They didn’t speak much, yet they had no idea that they were being deceived.
According to a report by NBC6’s Lorena Inclan, a Miami man has been apprehended for his involvement in a “grandparents scam” that swindled an elderly couple out of a significant amount of money.
Upon investigation, Marsan was found to be responsible for the rideshare payment in question. Furthermore, authorities were able to connect Marsan to various fraudulent activities spanning across Florida and North Carolina. It was discovered that he employed a similar modus operandi for all incidents, which involved utilizing rideshare services and arranging meetings with drivers at shopping plazas.
According to the arrest report, the couple contacted their grandson after making the payment, only to discover that he had never been in an accident or arrested. It was at this point that they realized they had fallen victim to a scam.
Elmore expresses relief that the authorities were able to apprehend the individual suspected of the scam before any further harm could be done.
Elmore stated that the ultimate objective is to secure a victory for justice. He added that there is nothing more satisfying than the recovery of stolen funds. Elmore emphasized that winning a case not only brings peace of mind to the victim but also prevents the perpetrator from committing the same crime again.
He was apprehended on Monday, and the authorities took him into custody without delay.