A 31-year-old woman in Florida, United States, has been arrested for allegedly posing as a bank employee to obtain a senior citizen’s bank card before withdrawing money from the victim’s account.
The suspect, identified as Moniquie Love Turnbull from Miami, allegedly went to an elderly victim’s home in Martin County and claimed that the victim’s account had been compromised.
She reportedly told the victim she could help “dispose of” the affected cards and attempted to obtain the victim’s bank or credit card.
However, just minutes after Turnbull left the property, the victim received a notification showing that US$3,180 (about RM13,500) had been withdrawn from the account. The victim, who reportedly lost their entire life savings, immediately contacted police.
Authorities subsequently launched an investigation and worked with the victim to identify and locate Turnbull, leading to her arrest.
Turnbull was charged with several offences, including fraud, unlawful use of two-way communication devices and fraudulent use of a payment card involving a person aged 60 or above.
The case took an unexpected turn when police conducted an intake search after arresting Turnbull. Officers allegedly discovered US$3,200 (about RM13,600) in cash concealed inside her body, which they seized and secured as evidence.
Police said the source of the cash had not yet been established. Turnbull was also hit with an additional charge for allegedly bringing contraband into a correctional facility, while her bail was set at US$500,000 (about RM2.1 million).
Following the incident, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reminded the public to remain cautious when strangers arrive at their homes claiming to represent banks, financial institutions or government agencies.
Authorities advised residents never to hand over bank cards, cash, gold or other valuables to such individuals and to contact police immediately if they encounter suspicious requests.
