Brooklyn Woman Scammed $75K in Fake Bail Scheme

Elvis Oduro, 22, has been arrested for allegedly scamming a Brooklyn woman, Sheila Levine, out of $75,000 by falsely claiming her grandson had been jailed and needed immediate bail money.

Miami police reported that Oduro contacted Levine on March 22, telling her that her grandson had been arrested in Chicago on drug charges. Believing the call to be legitimate, Levine transferred the entire amount to a Regions Bank account under Oduro’s control.

A week later, on March 29, Oduro withdrew $24,000 in two transactions: $4,000 at a bank branch on 2205 SW 8th Street in Miami and $20,000 at another branch on 901 South Miami Avenue. The next day, he attempted to withdraw more money at a third location on 6013 NW 7th Avenue, but bank employees informed him that sufficient funds were unavailable.

Fraud Investigation Leads to Arrest

Suspicious of the transactions, bank employees initiated an internal investigation. Their findings suggested the funds had been acquired fraudulently, prompting them to alert law enforcement. Oduro was soon arrested and is now under investigation for potential involvement in other scams.

Authorities are warning the public about similar grandparent scams, where fraudsters exploit elderly individuals’ emotions to steal money. Victims are urged to verify any distress calls from supposed family members before transferring funds.

This incident has raised concerns about the increasing number of financial scams targeting vulnerable individuals. Investigators are urging those who may have been affected to report similar cases through the official channels.

Meanwhile, Levine is working to recover her stolen money and prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes.