Florida Woman Lost $25K in Fake Sweepstakes Scheme

A 75-year-old Florida woman lost more than $25,000 in a scheme that began with a fake sweepstakes call. Investigators say the victim was contacted by someone posing as a Publishers Clearing House representative, who convinced her to send a $500 gift card to collect a prize.

The alleged scam escalated when a 24-year-old New York flight attendant, Destiny Blake, flew to Florida and accessed the woman’s Apple Card account. Blake allegedly used the card to make purchases totaling over $10,590.30 between November 16 and December 11.

Blake was arrested on October 23 at Miami International Airport after an international flight. She faces several felony charges, including organizing a scheme to defraud over $20,000 from a victim 65 or older and fraudulent use of personal identification information.

The victim’s losses were estimated at $25,310, with over $14,000 withdrawn from her bank account and additional charges linked to her Apple Card. A family member later found a handwritten note at the home instructing the victim to contact the card issuer and claim Blake as her granddaughter.

Investigators identified 88 transactions totaling $10,590.30, including purchases of Apple products, eBay items, and services like Uber and T-Mobile. The woman was also allegedly given specific instructions on how to respond to inquiries about Blake’s relationship to her.

Authorities warn that legitimate sweepstakes do not require winners to pay to collect prizes. If someone asks for financial information or a gift card, it is likely a scam. Victims are advised to contact their card issuer directly using the number on the back of their card or the issuer’s official website.