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On April 4th, 2025, officers were dispatched to Sea Coast Bank after staff reported a possible fraud in progress. >> How's it going? Hey, boss. You said they were having an issue with the check or something like that. >> In there. >> Okay. >> I got to let you go, bro. I I'll talk to you later. said they closed your account or something like that. >> They closed my account. I don't have an account here, sir. >> Okay, then. >> This is just a cash reg. >> Okay. Do you have your license with you? >> They took it. >> Okay. Don't be afraid. I just think I just for the Okay. Hey, ma'am. You have his license. Thank you. [snorts] >> Where'd you get the cashew stuff from? >> It was for uh Bitcoin. >> Oh, okay. So, you just like >> sold some Bitcoin and then they send you like a cash use check for it. >> No, it's it's like a I just invest it for them basically. Okay. I don't know about >> So, you're just investing the money for them. >> Yeah. And then I take like a very small cut for a fee. >> Okay. So, they're saying they have an issue with the check. I guess I'm not sure as to exactly what the issue is. I mean, this is obviously you. >> What's with the They ask for a social security number, too. >> They asked for two forms of ID. I don't know. I've like I've done this a few times. They they they send uh >> they pay anyway like zel cash app, Apple pay cashier check >> or cashier check, right? Cash check is more uncommon, but I don't know why. I just Yeah, it's whatever. But I' I've never I've never even been to this bank. I don't even know about what C Coast is. I live 45 minutes north of Fort Myers, >> but it was just a C coast bank like >> check. And I usually get like Bank of America or Wells Fargo or whatever that and I just go cash it and I make the investment and then I show them and everything. Everything's legit and that's it. And then >> I got this one and I see Sun Coast or not Sun Coast, it's Sea Coast. It's like what the hell is Sea Coast? I looked it up and there's one all the way down here and then I just I drove down here. >> I don't know. There's no other Sea Coast branches around here or anything like that. There is. >> That's the only one. Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. That's I never even heard of CEOs. I didn't even know that. >> I got you. Just you're just going to hang tight for the time being. I was just trying to figure out what's up with the check and all that stuff. >> Just as curious as you know. >> Could be one of those things where like the person handed you like a check. >> They tried to pull something. I don't know. >> Is the customer >> the person that the check is like from >> is their bank account was closed. Correct. >> Yeah. their bank account. >> You just want to hang tight for the time being and then I'll come back later. >> Tell us what we need to do. I'm sorry. >> How's it going? >> Trying to coordinate. Hi, I'm Am. >> How's it going? That was good. >> So, um so what we got is uh um we realized this check looked weird off the back cuz it says cashier checks and and and regular accounts don't have cashier check. Um so we did some we pulled this account up, couldn't pull it up. We linked it to this uh account. So we called this branch or this account's based out of Winter Winter Park >> and I called there in Florida. >> Yeah. Yeah. We're only based in Florida. So um anyway, we called and talked to senior crime advisor who's the one that's actually the account the uh um person that handles that account. She's very familiar with the whole account. She set it up. She knows them very well. Said this definitely fraud. Um they closed this account a year ago for fraud. um shut everything down and then this account's pulling up. So when we pull this up, this account has been purged off our system. But when you pull it in there, it actually pulls this company. Okay. It just doesn't show as an active account anymore. >> Um and honestly, I think this this guy's like oblivious. I don't think he he knows what's going on because >> it's a possibility that cuz what he's explaining to me is that he normally gets like checks for like what for his job and stuff like that. Normally just never cash used check before. He's like, "All right, that works. I guess he saw that it was from COS. came down all the way down here to see if he can cash it. So, I'm assuming 850. You said this account was closed about a year ago, right? >> Yeah. >> Due to fraud. >> Yeah. Due to fraud before it was shut down. >> And so then, yeah, like I said, this just popped up today. We couldn't figure out. So, we called the branch of account again. She was super familiar with everything. She she works with this account pretty much on a daily basis and um said that yeah, this is definitely fraud. But, and the weird thing is is the thing that triggered it is they put cashier checks. They must have bought cashier check stock when they did this fraud. >> Um because that like a normal account like you or I or any company would have never it's going to say cash that's only issued by banks. >> So um that's why that like was like a red flag right away. >> This doesn't look like trucks. >> Yeah. >> Not at all. So like we have like certain internal numbers that we use on the maker line here. the this account number is the account number that was closed. And when we issue cashiers checks, we don't put account numbers for um just security purposes. We use internal account numbers when we issue them. Um so they can't take out $850 from an account that was already closed. >> So it's and what's concerning is that he's getting checks from different places and he could be part of like he I don't know if he's a victim or whatever, but he could be falling if he's getting checks from different places for Bitcoin or whatever it is. >> Yeah. So according to him is like he manages their accounts for them and since they don't have an understanding of how bitcoin works I suppose and then he gets a small fee for how much depending on how much like they make through um his like basically like a broker to some extent. Um so let me talk with him real quick. Um >> if I can are you able to like uh scan a copy of that for me if that's okay just to check itself and then I'll see I'm going to talk with the other officer over here and I'll go down this >> I can make >> Yeah, that'd be perfect. Thank you. Okay. So, who handed you that check or the cashier's check? >> You just received it via the mail? >> I have the package with the little mail slip on it. It's in my car, the envelope. >> Okay. Yeah, we can just go ahead and grab that. >> You have your keys with you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, on the passenger side or something like that? >> Okay. That is that your car? >> Yeah. >> Okay, I got you. sadly. >> No, no. I was just I was just curious enough. >> Real quick, you don't have anything in the car. You're just going to stick out. >> No. >> No. Okay. >> That's literally all it was. It was just >> from Noah Matthew Morgan Oxford. >> That's me. >> That's the guy who sent >> That's the guy. That's me. >> Okay. Just hop back inside for me. like brand new. Like I we've never dealt with him before. I don't know. It's just another customer. And my boss was like, "Yep, you're going to get um he's going to ship you the cash check and he just said you wanted a coin." >> Oh, I we usually use ATMs, Bitcoin. >> ATMs. >> Yeah, I know what you're talking about. >> Sorry about that. Thank you. Real quick, that account. I'm trying to see this is the person that sent >> Oh, that's who sent it. I don't know. We have that person here. Um, is that a signer on this account? >> Yeah. Let's see. So, he was informed that he would get the cash check via the mail. This kid right here. And then this is how he received it from that person. That's him right there. >> I need to make a note of that >> here. If you want to just take a gander, Freddy Mendoza. >> Yeah, that's right. You >> want to get a photo copy of that? >> Um, I guess I could, right? That's easier than doing all of this. >> Yeah, you should probably do that. [laughter] >> Yeah, we um I I counted this guy. >> So, that account is closed, you said, right? >> Yeah, a year ago. >> And it was closed for fraud. It was closed by the bank for fraud. So, these people probably got their account compromised. They've got like 20 accounts with us. >> Mhm. But uh um this one was closed a year ago because they had uh someone you know >> so it's a possibility the person who >> and he he didn't this is his first time [snorts] in here. You never seen him before like that? >> He's never been and I I honestly think just from the way he's been hanging because most people this took forever. This took us like 25 30 minutes to get to the bottom of this >> and most times um if they're involved with they like skate you know they they they know something's up but on out of here. >> Yeah. He's just been like I mean we gave him a bottle of water to me. He's been super relaxed. I don't I honestly don't think that he's >> Yeah, it could be one of those things where the person who conducted fraud on this account went through with trying to purchase Bitcoin, send him that money. >> Yeah. >> Which is in a closed account and >> figured they get >> I'm going to ask him and see if he had any like they like money basically sent to Bitcoin sent to these people and this is like them paying them back for it. >> Yeah. Or is >> he issued him anything? Yeah. If they >> Yeah. And then this is like a fake check that they sent him. >> Yeah. One sec. >> Excuse me, sir. >> Hey, with that uh with that account, the check you received, did you send them like any Bitcoin like that or anything or is it just Yeah, like any any money to them? >> Sent them anything. >> So, this is the way it works is like that you receive it then you go through with like um >> Yeah, we take like um I don't even know what the percentage is. I think it's like a 5% fee for the investment. >> Okay. Is it just you that does this or is it like you >> It's for somebody. Yeah. just they they have elites supposedly and then you know they have people who just want to invest. I don't actually find the people myself >> and then um and then yeah it's like zel or cash app or anything like that and then we do um like Bitcoin and then like Solana and like other like forms of crypto but >> okay so you haven't sent the that the person who sent you that anything as of yet? has never sent them anything. Never heard of their name, nothing. Like it's just a like I've been through this probably 15 times now. I just started a few months ago with them, but I've done quite a few now. Yeah, >> you've done a couple already, but this is the first time this has happened. >> Yeah, I mean with this guy. I don't know who this is. >> That tag on your car. What's up with that? It's not coming back to the car literally a week ago. I still >> Okay, the tag. What tag is on there? I don't know. >> Tag, >> your old tag to a different car. >> You can't do that. Maybe >> you can't you have to >> 30 days. >> No, you have to transfer the information like right away. Technically, you're driving an unregistered vehicle cuz the tag is like an on top of it. >> 30 days in the state of Florida, right? My stepdad is calling FWC. >> I'm pretty positive that like you have to have it like like attempt tag. You're full. They're full good to send >> privately or Facebook marketplace. You have to you you signed title. >> No, >> you didn't sign title. >> No, I I I was I had a buddy who signed a title in the wrong spot [music] and the whole thing was screwed. So, he told me like, "Do it at the DMV." So, you don't have to do that. >> How have you been in contact with >> How have you been contacting? >> We're contacting him. It's through the >> It's through what? >> Oh, okay. So, it's your boss basically. >> Basically. Yeah. >> Okay. Um, do you have visit number? >> I Yeah, >> I do. Been >> texting people like crazy. >> Yeah. Who you just been texting? What? The your boss or something like that? >> No, just my I'm meeting up with a friend later. >> Okay. this for a second. >> This is his boss. >> He's saying is that is that his cut or is that what he's using to buy Bitcoin? His Bitcoin is at $83,000. >> That is what he uses. I mean, yeah, you can buy chunks of it. >> A fraction. >> Yeah, you can buy fractions. I could go see if the banker who actually has anything. >> So this >> No, you're good to go. >> You can use it to invest in other things though from my understanding. >> I don't need her [laughter] >> from what I know how it works. >> Are you leaving for this? >> Oh, okay. Oh, Benny [laughter] is not immediate. We don't need you right this time. >> Do you have your phone number? This is supposed to be his boss. >> Okay. All right. Perfect. >> Thank you. >> Oh, you got do you got the phone number >> for his boss? for this guy for >> no. So according to him he goes through with his boss >> um and then information or whatever and that he goes through with the one that's I guess been in contact with this guy here. >> I guess you know what to ask. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Just star 67. That's my personal >> get that out. Okay. I'll be right back. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Just a second. Yeah. My front pers officer Vasquez. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh Melissa. >> Yes. >> Uh Melissa, you're on the phone with Officer Vasquez. >> And uh she will >> Hi, Officer. >> Hi. How's it going? >> She's she's in our fraud prevention area. >> Good. Um I'm in the fraud department with C Coast Bank and I just wanted to get an understanding. We've confirmed that this is a counterfeit check that this kid is trying to cash. >> Okay. >> And um I understand you guys were trying to find out if was a signer. Is that what you guys were trying to do? >> Correct. Yeah. Do we know if he's signer for the company >> or whatever? >> This is Yes. >> is who you're you're looking to see if it's a signer. Is that correct? >> Correct. Yes. >> Okay. So, the No, he is not. Okay. >> What I'm guessing is Can you tell me what type of conversation this kid is or what type of story this kid is telling you about how he got it and who he's getting it from? >> Yeah. So, from my understanding is that he explained that he had received a check via the mail from this gentleman here. >> Um, and he usually does this through his boss, which is my other officer speaking to right now. Um, according to him, he received $850 um via cashier's check um to basically purchase like Bitcoin and then invest it for this person and then he the way it works is he basically takes a 5% cut is the way he explained it to me. >> Yeah, he's he's a mule. >> Awesome. >> He's he's uh he's involved in some type of mule activity. This is a scam. So we we actually see this all the time. I don't know if you see that in your area or not. It's >> often times. So um out of curiosity, so what you're saying is that the check itself is like fraudulent or like it's not >> it's counterfeit. Yeah. Okay. It's counterfeit. >> Okay. All right. >> Individual and Yeah. He's he's a mule for this activity. So whoever his boss is is getting him to do to do the mule. Yeah. Okay, >> that's what we were like thinking of like initially. >> That specific account that he was trying to capture check from has been closed for fraud for about a year. >> Okay, so check it. >> Yeah, it's kind of is what the Melissa Rodriguez is telling me. She's part of their fraud department for this uh for the bank. >> Okay. >> So, I tried. So, the number for his boss >> number's out of service. >> Yeah, he's texting on WhatsApp, which means He just be on Wi-Fi and WhatsApp works off Wi-Fi and other stuff right there. It's like a name. >> Yeah. So, just ask him to see who the hell he's texting. >> What's up? >> Yeah. Ask him to see who's texting who he's texting. But >> he's texting. >> I mean, the way it works is like he's in possession of the check. He's attempted the cash. He wasn't able to cash it. My understanding is like he has knowledge of it. >> But sounds weird. does. Yeah, it's >> it could be one of those things where like that I mean the way this lady explained it was that like it could be one of those things where he's doesn't know what the [ __ ] is going on. He's just trying to catch his check basically for someone else his boss who's basically trying to screw or he does know and that he's trying which makes sense. This could be one of those things where he doesn't know what doing or he does know exactly what he's doing. I just pinpoint as to what the it is. >> How did you how did you meet the guy you're talking to? I think it was. Yeah, I'm >> through WhatsApp. >> Did you just ask me that? >> No, it was another officer. I'm trying to like make sure. Is it through WhatsApp or something like that or >> That's what we contact on. I I think it's I don't know if we met on Telegram or WhatsApp, but it's one of the two which I know >> is like a fishier platform because it's an undercover thing. >> But um >> yeah, I had never like dabbled in those. I'm on Telegram for like groups for crypto. They make like call outs for like ones to get in on, >> but that was it. And then I genuinely I got done telling somebody, I don't know which one, um that I was super heavy into weed smoking the last 2 years and [music] I just quit. It impaired my memory like crazy and I genuinely I don't remember anything. I don't even remember what I ate for breakfast. I just my a 2-year relationship I just went through got destroyed because of that as well. Okay. >> Like you name it, I >> So you just during that time you had made contact with this gentleman. You just don't recall when or how you met on >> He probably reached out to me. I don't >> So you're just dealing doing business with him basically. >> Yeah. I mean I don't like I told him there's like Facebook ads for like remote jobs and stuff like that. So it might have been that but Facebook is a local thing. You know what I mean? >> So I don't think >> that was it cuz I doubt he's local. Might be, but I don't think that was it. He probably reached out to me some way because of my experience in crypto or something. >> So you have like some knowledge of how how it works basically. So he reached out to you. Yeah. So he reached out to you to some extent possibly or you reached out to him. >> Like I said it was a few months ago. I've been like through so much the last like 6 months. Like you don't even understand like >> Yeah. I I really don't know. And I don't like deal with him a lot. This is not a full-time job or anything. He hits me up like every now and then. It's like, "Oh, this person wants to make an investment." I'm like, "Okay." >> Okay. >> It's not like a everyday thing where it's like >> every now and then you'll contact >> a week maybe. Yeah. >> Okay. >> She was the one that we spoke to earlier that said that the check itself was counterfeit. Hey, Melissa. Sorry to bother you. Hey, uh the police officers police officers had a couple questions for you. >> Uh it's officer Vasquez and Blumquist. >> Hi. Uh this is Corporal Bloomquist. Um I'm just uh we're getting close to happening up to prove knowledge. So before we do that, I just want to confirm that the bank is willing to press charges because they would be the victim in this situation being that the account is closed and he'd be taking money basically directly from the bank. >> So we aren't going to have any we would not have suffered a loss in this case because the account's not existent. >> Well, I'm saying if if he succeeded in pulling the money out. >> Got it. Yeah. >> Then then you would have suffered the loss. So that would make you the victim of the attempted fraud? >> Yep. >> So as the victim, is the bank willing to press charges? >> Yeah. >> Okay, perfect. All right, that's all I needed. So, [snorts] how did you get the check today? >> It was in my mailbox. Well, not my mailbox. I It's I've been staying at my friend's house since I had him ship it there. >> Okay. But you've never spoken to this person? >> No. And you've never met >> the dude on the No. No. Never talked to him. Don't know his name. >> So, how exactly do you get your cut? >> Do you take off the top? >> Yeah. >> And then >> deposit everything to my boss. I I send him I send him a picture of the when I got it in the mail, you know, the check. We make sure everything's the same, all that stuff >> and like >> and the money and then I and then I put it in the Bitcoin thing and then I send it to whatever account or his wallet, crypto wallet, whatever, or the business wallet. I don't know what what I literally don't know anything else past that point and that's it. >> Right. But obviously this does not appear to be a legal operation. I didn't think so. No, it's an it's a crypto investment. It's like you giving me a grand and saying like, "Can you put this in on black for me?" >> It's a little different than that cuz there's no interaction between us for that. Only >> What do you mean? You mean cuz he nailed it cuz like we never met or what? >> Never met, never spoke. >> You've never met the boss? Mhm. We can't contact him to verify anything. >> I don't know why you can't contact him now because he's not reading anything or nothing is going through on my end either >> because it's not. >> Yeah, I'm Yeah, I'm catching that now. All right. But being that you are essentially just taking money off the top and then depositing the rest. >> Mhm. >> I mean, none of this seemed like something that you should stop doing at any point. >> I'm I'm a teenager, dude. I'm not the smartest. You know what I mean? It was 50 bucks in my pocket and an investment I had to do for somebody and that fed me at the end of the day. You know what I mean? People sell drugs for a reason. People traffic for a reason. People dance on polls for a reason. Like you have to do what you got to do. You know what I mean? My stepdad's a cop. Like I I He's FWC for Collier County. He's I I like Yeah. It's the same for him. He tells me every day. He's like, "We don't make we don't we make 50 60 grand a year, you know, and it's miserable, but I do it because, you know, the job is fun and it is what it is and it keeps the food on my table, but that's all it is, you know." >> Right. But that's a it's a job where he's going in and >> I know it's not a relatable thing, but yeah, >> even [clears throat] even dancing on a pole, it's it's a legit job that you get hired for. You have an interview. Well, that's most of the time it's under the table for that, too. But yeah, >> but like this, >> it didn't occur to you that this probably isn't legal. >> I didn't care. I needed money. You know what I mean? I don't I don't really give a [ __ ] You know, I needed food on my table. I've been homeless for months cuz my mom kicked me out thanks to this. I got my mom scammed out of $15,000. And she kicked me out last year. at the end of last year. I've been couch surfing the past 5 months and I just finally got a car last week for $500 because the and I can't afford to register it or anything too. >> Sorry. >> You know, that's the I'm not trying to you guys. This is my story, dude. I'm low. >> No, I'm going to need you to stand up. All right. Travis. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What is >> Okay. Can I get like an explanation at least exactly what is going on? >> It's fraud. >> Pass a fraudulent check. Man, >> you're trying. >> It's a fraudulent check. >> Yes. >> It came back fraudulent. >> Yes. >> And to an account that is >> locked for >> Yeah. It's been shut down for over a year. >> Over a year. >> Yes. since March of uh 24. >> Awesome. So, I just myself on that one. >> Very cool. >> Love that for myself. I'll just push myself even lower in life right now. >> Look, it's a mistake. All right. >> Do you have anything hold on you that you're not supposed to have? >> Walgreens keys. >> That's it. >> Should be. >> All right. >> Grabbing stuff up there. Nothing that's going to cut poker broad me. >> No. >> All right. >> What are these pills? >> Are they really? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There's a lot of them. All right. [snorts] >> Any jewelry other than you have the watch, couple rings, and the earrings? >> Yep. >> All right. >> Yeah. backing. >> Yeah. Now you got some statements and stuff. >> You might have to try to sit forward a little bit. Double lock, right? >> How do people do this in the movies? Ow. You got to like sit up straight to some extent and then just lower your hands as much as you can. >> I They're on the back. >> It's like angled there. Watch out. Watch your knees real quick. I just want to hit you. >> He was charged with fraud for uttering a false instrument. 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