Florida man arrested in Arizona for alleged ‘phantom hacker scam’

PHOENIX — A Florida man was arrested in Arizona earlier this month when he allegedly tried to collect gold from an elderly woman in Phoenix as part of a “phantom hacker scam,” officials said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona identified the man taken into custody on April 10 as 59-year-old Gary Christopher of Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Christopher was charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to launder money and made his first appearance in federal court on Monday.

What led to the Florida man being arrested in Arizona?

Prosecutors said Christopher acted as a courier in the fraud scheme.

According to the complaint, Christopher’s co-conspirators, one impersonating a former U.S. attorney, contacted the elderly woman and falsely claimed that her identity had been stolen. They then told her to purchase gold and give it to them for safekeeping.

The woman allegedly proceeded to transfer more than $400,000 in assets to the scammers before realizing she had been defrauded.

On April 9, Christopher traveled to Arizona to collect an additional $600,000 in gold bullion from the woman. He was taken into custody by law enforcement when he arrived at the victim’s house and investigators found evidence that Christopher had been sent instructions on how to pick up the gold and transfer it to his co-conspirators, according to prosecutors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office encouraged community members to verify the identity of anyone asking for money as well as to immediately report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. It also reminded the public that the government would not ask individuals to transfer money into gold bullion or give it to a courier who comes to their residence.

Anyone who is, or knows someone who is, a victim of elder fraud is advised to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (372-8311). It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time and offers services in English, Spanish and other languages. A complaint can also be filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center online.

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