TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit (CFEU) has successfully charged two individuals involved in a sophisticated SIM card swap and money laundering operation.
According to the investigation, Thomas Simmons coordinated with Raymond Ortiz, a Florida cellphone store employee, to carry out the illegal scheme. Ortiz swapped the victim’s SIM card, allowing Simmons to gain remote control of the victim’s phone. This enabled Simmons to bypass two-factor authentication for the victim’s banking app and steal nearly $280,000 from their account.
Attorney General Ashley Moody commented, “These defendants exploited a SIM card swap to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from an unsuspecting victim while they were flying. Thanks to our CFEU and law enforcement partners, these criminals will face justice.”
The scam took place when the victim was aboard a flight and unable to stop the theft. By the time they landed, they discovered their phone had been tampered with, and the money had been drained from their bank account. Simmons, who was already facing federal bank fraud charges, used the stolen funds to purchase cashier checks for personal use.
Ortiz was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and is charged with grand theft over $100,000 and criminal use of personal identification. Simmons, who fled to California, was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and will face charges of grand theft and money laundering.
Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the case.
Protect Yourself from SIM Swap Scams
In response to this case, Attorney General Moody reminded Floridians about the dangers of SIM swap scams. She advised the following steps to protect against such fraud:
Regularly change passwords and avoid using phone numbers for two-factor authentication.
Use a two-factor authentication app for added security.
Set a strong PIN for mobile carrier accounts.
Utilize mobile security apps to monitor account access.
Be cautious about sharing or posting your cellphone number.
The primary indicator of a SIM swap scam is the inability to make or receive calls or texts. If this happens, immediately contact your mobile carrier and report the incident to law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
The CFEU works with law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrimes and protect Floridians from digital fraud.
