Attorney General James Uthmeier announces charges against member of cyberfraud ring for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from Florida residents
Tallahassee, Florida – Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that a member of a cyberfraud ring has been charged for stealing more than $50,000 from Florida residents. Weikai Zhang, a Central Florida man, faces multiple felony charges for operating a cyber fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable Floridians with fraudulent online pop-up alerts and fake bank employee impersonations.
“This cyber fraudster exploited Floridians, including a senior, and stole tens of thousands of dollars,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This will not be allowed to stand in Florida. Thanks to the hard work of our Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit, our Statewide Prosecutors will be able to hold this cybercriminal accountable.”
The investigation began when a resident from Orange County filed a complaint regarding a scam in which they lost $23,000. According to the victim, they were tricked by a pop-up alert on their computer that falsely claimed their bank account had been compromised. Zhang, using his deceptive tactics, convinced the victim to send money to what he claimed was a “safe account” via three different cryptocurrency kiosks, also known as Bitcoin ATMs. When the victim failed to transfer the funds, Zhang took a more direct approach.
Zhang traveled to the victim’s location in person, posing as a bank employee and successfully collecting the $23,000 in cash. Surveillance footage captured the suspect during this exchange, which played a crucial role in identifying Zhang as the perpetrator. Authorities believe this was only one of many scams that Zhang was involved in.
Further investigation revealed that Zhang had used similar methods to scam other victims, including an elderly woman. In this case, Zhang traveled from Central Florida to Martin County, where he tricked the senior woman into giving him $30,000 in cash. The victim was led to believe that her bank account was in danger, and Zhang used the same fraudulent approach to obtain her money.
Zhang has been charged with several serious crimes in connection with his cyberfraud activities. He faces one count of organized scheme to defraud over $50,000, a first-degree felony, as well as one count of exploitation of a person 65 years or older, involving amounts between $10,000 and $50,000, which is classified as a second-degree felony. Additionally, Zhang is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit grand theft over $20,000 but less than $100,000, a third-degree felony.
Authorities were able to track down Zhang and arrest him in New York, after which he was transported to Martin County to face charges. The arrest is the result of a multi-agency investigation involving the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit.
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Zhang’s arrest marks a significant step in Florida’s ongoing fight against cyber fraud. As more people become reliant on online banking and digital transactions, the state is seeing a rise in scams targeting unsuspecting individuals, particularly seniors. Attorney General Uthmeier’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit is dedicated to preventing such crimes and holding offenders accountable.
“This investigation highlights the importance of remaining vigilant against fraudsters who use digital platforms to prey on individuals,” said Uthmeier. “We will continue to work tirelessly to protect Floridians from this type of crime.”
With Zhang now in custody, authorities are urging any other potential victims of his scheme to come forward. The case serves as a reminder to the public to be cautious when dealing with unsolicited online alerts or phone calls that ask for sensitive information or financial transactions.
