A man is facing fraud and money laundering charges after authorities say he participated in an organized scheme that scammed thousands of dollars from two elderly women.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, a male suspect, identified as Carlos Cardenas Cordoba, was allegedly part of a team that targeted vulnerable seniors over the phone.
In one instance, the group reportedly contacted an 82-year-old woman and convinced her to mail $20,000 by falsely claiming there was fraudulent activity tied to her bank account.
OCSO stated that in a separate incident, the scammers allegedly convinced a 72-year-old woman to mail $5,500. She advised that the scammers told her that these funds were required to “clear her name” because she was facing “criminal charges.”
The agency’s Economic Crimes Unit launched an investigation into the incidents, and detectives reportedly uncovered the fraudulent operation. With assistance from the St. Cloud Police Department, who executed a search warrant related to the case, detectives were able to recover the stolen money for both victims.
Cordoba was subsequently located and placed under arrest for his alleged role in the operation. He is currently facing the following charges: scheme to defraud ($20,000 to $50,000) and money laundering ($20,000 to $100,000).
“[Our agency] remains committed to protecting our seniors and holding accountable those who prey on the elderly for their own personal gain,” said the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in a social media post. “We also want to remind seniors, their families, and caregivers to remain vigilant.”
OCSO encourages all residents to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers. In addition, residents should never send money to someone that they haven’t personally verified, and the agency recommends speaking with a trusted family member before making financial decisions involving large sums of money.
“When in doubt, hang up the phone,” added the sheriff’s office.