A Miami man, Agustin Garcia-Marsan, 38, has been arrested for his involvement in a “grandparent scam” that defrauded an elderly couple out of thousands of dollars. Authorities have linked him to several other fraud cases across Florida and beyond.
The investigation into Garcia-Marsan began when a couple, aged 87 and 82, received a call from someone posing as their grandson, claiming he had been in a car accident. According to the arrest report, the impersonator stated he was being arrested for texting while driving and instructed the grandparents to contact an attorney for bail assistance.
On July 3, the grandfather called the number provided and was told by the “attorney” that he needed to produce $18,500 in cash immediately, as the upcoming July 4 holiday would delay the court process and keep his grandson in jail longer.
“These elderly victims lack the resources to verify their family members’ well-being; they can’t use applications like ‘Find My Friends’ to check,” explained Miami-Dade Police Detective Brandon Cañizares. “Often, they call their relatives, who may not answer, leaving them anxious and stressed.”
After gathering the cash, the grandfather was informed that a courier would pick it up shortly. A Lyft driver arrived within ten minutes to collect the package, unaware of the scam he was involved in.
Later, the grandfather called his real grandson, who confirmed he was safe and had never been in an accident. Realizing he had been scammed, the grandfather promptly reported the incident to law enforcement.
Surveillance footage later revealed that the Lyft driver had met Garcia-Marsan at a shopping plaza to deliver the money. Investigators uncovered that Garcia-Marsan used fraudulent accounts with fake names, email addresses, and burner phone numbers. However, he also utilized his Florida driver’s license, a photo of himself, and a credit card registered to his address.
Garcia-Marsan was apprehended on Monday and subsequently booked into jail. As of now, there is no available information regarding his attorney.
Authorities note that the “grandparent scam” has become increasingly prevalent. Scammers meticulously research their targets through social media and other online sources to exploit familial connections. They often use the names of real attorneys to avoid detection by victims who might seek verification.
Just last month, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of six individuals linked to a statewide grandparent scam ring that had stolen approximately $250,000 from seniors.