Two men from Broward County have been arrested this month for allegedly scamming Uber out of more than $1 million.
According to Miranda Grossman, a spokesperson for the Broward Sheriff’s Office, an eight-month investigation revealed that Trayon Morgan, 21, and Roy Blackwood created fake accounts using phony and stolen identities to carry out the scheme.
The fraudulent activities reportedly began in January 2022, primarily affecting Broward and Palm Beach counties.
“Morgan exploited the Uber Eats app, posing as both the customer and the courier,” Grossman stated in a news release. “He would place grocery orders through a fake account, then accept the same orders as the courier. Uber would provide him with a preloaded credit card for the purchase, allowing him to spend up to $700 per transaction. After receiving the groceries, he would cancel the order and use the Uber credit card to buy gift cards.”
Grossman noted that Blackwood assisted Morgan by driving him to various Walgreens locations to execute the scam.
On January 24, detectives conducted surveillance and observed the duo visiting 27 different Walgreens stores, resulting in an estimated loss of over $5,000 for Uber that day alone.
“Morgan created multiple fake accounts to perpetuate the fraud,” Grossman added. “He often used stolen identities of Uber drivers, altering their license information with his own photo. With the assistance of Uber and other investigative methods, detectives confirmed Morgan’s involvement with the fraudulent accounts.”
Arrest warrants for both men were issued on August 7. Blackwood was apprehended by Palm Beach Gardens police on August 16, while Morgan was arrested in Tamarac on Tuesday.
Both face charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft. As of Friday afternoon, Morgan remains in custody at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond, while Blackwood has been released after posting the same bond the day following his arrest.
