A Flagler Beach senior was allegedly tricked into putting his debit card in an envelope and leaving it in his mailbox.
The scam began with a phone call from someone claiming to be with Spectrum’s fraud department. The caller told the man his account had been compromised, then transferred him to another person who allegedly pretended to represent his bank.
That second person told him to seal the debit card in an envelope so it could be collected and his account could be “secured.” Deputies said the card was later used for $3,500 in fraudulent charges and ATM withdrawals across Palm Coast and St. Augustine.
The Victim Was Told to Leave His Card in the Mailbox
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded June 5 to a home on John Anderson Highway after the elderly victim reported the scam.
Investigators said the victim was told to put his debit card in an envelope, seal it, and leave it in his mailbox. The caller allegedly framed the pickup as part of the process to secure the account.
The man followed the instructions.
Deputies said the envelope was picked up by someone he did not see, leaving investigators to determine who collected the card and how it was used afterward.
The Card Was Used for $3,500
After the card was taken, the victim discovered fraudulent activity tied to his account.
Deputies said the card was used for about $3,500 in charges and ATM withdrawals. The activity happened in Palm Coast and St. Augustine, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives Traced the Activity to Two Vehicles
Detectives first traced the fraudulent withdrawals to a vehicle driven by Mardochee Malvoisin, 36, of Palm Coast.
The Sheriff’s Office said Malvoisin was already in custody at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on unrelated charges when the fraud investigation identified him.
The agency’s Real Time Crime Center then helped detectives identify a second vehicle connected to the case. Investigators said that vehicle was a Miami-area rental linked to Emile Destin Jr., 38, of North Miami Beach.
Deputies Say One Suspect Recruited the Other
According to the Sheriff’s Office, detectives determined Destin recruited Malvoisin to steal the debit card from the victim’s mailbox. That allegation is what connected the two men beyond the card activity itself.
Detectives obtained arrest warrants for both men. The charges include criminal use of personal identification information, grand theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card two or more times in six months.
The charges are allegations. Neither man has been convicted in the case.
One Man Was Already in Jail, the Other Turned Himself In
Malvoisin was arrested at the Flagler County jail, where he was already being held.
The Sheriff’s Office said he remained in custody on a combined $19,500 bond, including $15,000 on the fraud warrants and $4,500 on a separate case involving driving with a suspended license, giving a deputy a false name, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Destin turned himself in to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office on July 13. He was being held on a $35,000 bond while awaiting extradition to Flagler County.
No Real Company Needs Your Card in an Envelope
A legitimate cable company, bank, credit union, police department, or fraud department will not tell a customer to seal a debit card in an envelope, leave it in a mailbox, hand it to a courier, or mail it to “secure” an account.
If a caller says an account has been compromised, the safer step is to hang up and contact the company or bank directly using the number on the card, account statement, official app, or official website.
Suspected debit-card pickup scams should be reported immediately to the bank or card issuer, local law enforcement, and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If a card or financial item was taken from a mailbox, a report can also be filed with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.