DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) — A 22-year-old man is behind bars after allegedly scamming an elderly resident out of more than $20,000 in a sophisticated bank fraud scheme.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), Omari Burke was arrested after an investigation that began with a tip from the South Florida Fraud Task Force and the FBI.
Detectives say the victim received a phone call from someone claiming to be a Wells Fargo employee. That call was followed by another impersonator posing as an “investigator.” The scammers convinced the victim to withdraw over $20,000 in cash and mail it to an address in Deerfield Beach.
Investigators traced the money back to Burke, who reportedly posted photos of the stolen cash on social media, boasting about the fraud.
Burke was arrested on September 16 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. He faces several serious charges, including:
Obtaining property over $20,000 by fraud
Money laundering
Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
Defrauding a financial institution
Grand theft from a person 65 or older
BSO believes Burke may be part of a larger ring targeting elderly victims in similar scams. The investigation is ongoing.
Authorities are urging the public, especially seniors, to stay alert to phone and internet scams. Officials emphasize that banks and government agencies will never ask for money, personal information, or debit cards over the phone.
