VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a scheme that led to a Virginia Beach man losing $22,000 after being tricked into handing over his phone, according to police and court documents.
The case is part of a troubling trend reported by WTKR News 3’s Investigative Team, involving scammers approaching victims in parking lots or at stop lights and requesting to use their phones under false pretenses.
According to a search warrant obtained by WTKR, the incident began last October when the suspects befriended the victim in a parking lot. They claimed they needed assistance with a Navy Federal Credit Union money transfer. Trusting them, the victim handed over his phone.
Once in possession of the device, the suspects accessed the victim’s banking apps and Cash App, transferring $11,000 over several days. Believing they might help fix the issue, the victim met with the suspects again a week later.
Instead, records show the situation escalated. The victim got into a car with the suspects, who began yelling and threatening him. He was then allegedly forced to buy gift cards, money orders, withdraw cash from ATMs, and even take out a loan—resulting in a total loss of $22,000.
Surveillance footage helped police identify and arrest three individuals:
Kymon Tyson, 26, of Chesapeake
Mercedes Walker, 28, of Virginia Beach
Darren Roberts, 32, of Virginia Beach
The trio faces multiple charges, including identity theft, forgery, abduction, and grand larceny.
“These individuals are very sophisticated in how fast they can get into your phone system and access banking apps—sometimes in under 30 seconds,” said Garrett Shelton, Chief of Police at Old Dominion University.
Virginia Beach authorities are urging the public to stay alert and avoid handing over their phones to strangers.
“Unfortunately, some people use deceptive tactics just to take from you,” Shelton added.
The preliminary hearing for all three suspects is scheduled for July 18.
Navy Federal Credit Union has not responded to requests for comment.
