A 22-year-old Broward man is behind bars after investigators said he preyed on elderly victims in a bank phone scam that funneled thousands of dollars into his hands.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, one of the victims — a 74-year-old Alabama man — was tricked into sending more than $20,000 after receiving a call from someone pretending to work for Wells Fargo’s fraud department. The caller warned of a large unauthorized withdrawal and instructed the victim to verify his account, withdraw the funds, and ship the cash via FedEx to addresses in Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach.
Detectives said the suspect, identified as Omari Burke, picked up the packages and later bragged about the money on Instagram. He was arrested and appeared in court Wednesday, facing five charges, including obtaining property over $20,000 by fraud.
An arrest warrant describes Burke as a danger to the community, particularly seniors, citing his prior criminal history of fraud in Broward County. Investigators also allege he enriched himself and others through an organized scheme that involved impersonating bank employees, fraud departments, and even law enforcement officers to deceive older victims.
Authorities believe others may have been involved in the operation, and additional arrests are possible.
