Florida man indicted in phone scam targeting Arizona seniors

A Florida man has been indicted on fraud and theft charges after authorities say he traveled to Phoenix three times to collect more than $65,000 stolen from elderly victims in a phone scam, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced Wednesday.

A Maricopa County grand jury indicted Andre Hart, 22, on seven felony counts including fraud and theft.

Prosecutors say that on three separate dates in July, victims received phone calls from someone posing as a representative of their bank. The callers convinced the victims to withdraw large sums of cash and hand the money over to a person they were told was an undercover investigator.

According to the indictment, Hart took thousands from four victims, including one that handed over more than $25,000.

The scheme relied on Uber drivers who were unaware of their role, according to the county attorney’s office. The drivers believed they were performing routine package pickups and deliveries, but instead delivered the cash to Hart, who had flown to Phoenix, prosecutors said.

Hart was arrested July 30 by Glendale police after returning to Phoenix a third time and allegedly trying the same scheme.

Officers were surveilling Hart when they saw him receive one of the packages, prosecutors said. After he was taken into custody, another Uber driver approached police trying to deliver yet another package.

Hart is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

Related

Goodyear police officer investigated over potential misuse of Flock technologyMesa International Film Festival brings indie film showcase downtownWhich Arizona cities, counties, law enforcement agencies have stopped using Flock cameras?Water, housing costs top Arizona voters’ focus, statewide survey findsFlood watch issued for parts of Maricopa County as storms threaten heavy rainArizona’s tribal, rural communities will bear the brunt as Colorado River plan fails to stabilize