A 73-year-old Boynton Beach woman handed cash to a man near the entrance of her gated community after a caller used remote computer access, a fake refund, and a pickup code, deputies said.
Palm Beach County deputies arrested Jefferson Paul, 31, of Port St. Lucie, on June 1 on charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft involving a victim over the age of 65, according to CBS12.
Deputies said the woman lost about $44,400 after two cash withdrawals and two handoffs at the same location. The charges are allegations, and no conviction was reported in the sources reviewed.
$44K LOSS | Deputies warn of a complex scheme that cost a senior tens of thousands of dollars.https://t.co/sGjxwrD4ym
— WPEC CBS12 News (@CBS12) June 2, 2026
The Call Started With a $450 Charge
CBS12 reported that the case began in early October 2025, when the woman noticed a $450 charge on her bank account that she did not recognize.
She believed the charge was connected to antivirus software, searched online for customer support, and called a number she thought was legitimate, according to deputies.
Investigators said the call connected her to someone who convinced her to allow remote access to her computer.
The FBI warns that tech-support scammers may pose as customer support for computer or virus software, banking, online shopping, utilities, security, cable, internet, printer, GPS, and cryptocurrency services.
The Fake Refund Made It Look Like She Owed $45,000
During the call, the woman’s screen went black, CBS12 reported. Deputies said the caller then manipulated the transaction so it looked as if she had received a $45,000 refund instead of $450.
The caller told her she needed to return the money immediately, according to investigators.
The FTC describes a similar fake-refund setup in tech-support scams. A scammer may ask for remote access, take the victim to a spoofed site, claim there was an error in the refund amount, then pressure the person to send money back.
Deputies Say She Handed Cash to a Courier Twice
On October 2, the woman withdrew $30,000 in cash from a Chase Bank in Delray Beach, CBS12 reported.
Bank employees questioned the large withdrawal and warned her that she might be the victim of fraud, according to the report. She told them the money was for her daughter.
Later that day, she met a man near the entrance of her gated community and handed over the cash after giving him a code supplied by the caller, deputies said. CBS12 reported that the money was wrapped in a bag and placed into a vehicle before the man drove away.
Authorities said the same pattern continued the next day. The woman withdrew another $14,400 from a different bank while the caller stayed on the phone, then handed cash to the same courier at the same location, according to CBS12.
The victim’s daughter later learned about the transactions, recognized the situation as a scam, and the family contacted law enforcement.
Surveillance Led Investigators to a Rented Nissan Rogue
Detectives reviewed surveillance video from the community and identified a silver Nissan Rogue near the entrance around the time of the exchanges, CBS12 reported.
Records showed the vehicle had been rented during the relevant period. Investigators traced the rental to Paul and determined he had possession of the vehicle from late September through early October, overlapping with the dates the money was collected, according to the report.
The victim and her husband later participated in a photo lineup and identified Paul as the courier, deputies said.
Court records or a final case outcome were not included in the CBS12 report, and the charges remain allegations unless proven in court.
The Pickup Code Is the Warning Sign
The passcode made the handoff feel organized, but the FBI has warned that this exact tactic appears in courier scams. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center says scammers may send couriers to pick up cash or precious metals from victims at homes or public locations and may use a passcode, such as the serial number of a U.S. dollar bill, to make the exchange seem official.
In the Boynton Beach case, the warning signs were stacked together: a customer-support number found through a search, remote access to the victim’s computer, a supposed refund error, pressure to return money quickly, a caller staying on the phone during bank withdrawals, and an in-person cash pickup.
Anyone who gives remote access to an unknown caller should disconnect, change passwords from another device, contact the bank directly, and report the incident to local law enforcement, the FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.