Elderly Victims Targeted by Scammers in Rhode Island and Florida

In a troubling trend, elderly individuals in both Rhode Island and Florida have fallen victim to sophisticated scams, resulting in substantial financial losses.

Rhode Island Scam

A report from WPRI details a case in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, where tech scammers approached an elderly woman in person after initially gaining remote access to her computer. The victim, who suffers from dementia, received a pop-up message warning her that police would arrive unless she called a provided number. This led to scammers gaining control of her finances.

After the scammers remotely accessed her computer, they later visited her home, falsely claiming to offer technical support. They did not have uniforms or official vehicles, raising suspicions. The police were alerted when a bank teller noticed unusual withdrawals from the victim's account. Authorities believe this was a targeted scam rather than random, with multiple cash drop-off points involved. North Kingstown Police Captain John MacCoy Jr. emphasized the need for vigilance, advising individuals to verify urgent claims directly with their banks.

Florida Scam

In a separate incident, a Florida woman named Moniquie Love Turnbull was arrested for allegedly scamming an elderly victim by posing as a bank representative. According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Turnbull visited the victim's home, claiming their bank account was compromised and attempting to obtain their debit or credit card.

Suspicious of Turnbull's intentions, the victim contacted law enforcement. While deputies investigated, they linked Turnbull to another similar case. She was apprehended during a traffic stop, and upon being taken to jail, authorities discovered $3,200 in cash concealed inside her body. Turnbull now faces multiple charges, including scheme to defraud and introducing contraband into a prison, with her bond set at $500,000.