News Summary Federal prosecutors in Norfolk, Virginia, have arrested ten suspects linked to a fraudulent phone scam affecting Navy Federal credit union customers. Victims reported over 500 incidents, with losses exceeding $2 million as scammers misled them into facilitating unauthorized transactions through their phones. The defendants face serious charges, including wire and bank fraud. Authorities urge the public to be cautious and protect personal information against such scams. Norfolk, Virginia – Federal prosecutors have announced the arrests of 10 suspects involved in a fraudulent phone scam that has targeted Navy Federal credit union customers across the Hampton Roads area. This operation has led to hundreds of victims losing millions of dollars after being misled into assisting scammers with their phones. The defendants now face serious charges, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to launder money. The arrested individuals are: Rodney Thornton (Norfolk) Steven Carter Jones III (Norfolk) Jamaica Sumner (Norfolk) Troy Lee Davis III (Virginia Beach) Laterrance Park Jr. (Virginia Beach) Jordan Pugh (Norfolk) Lois Irene Staton (Norfolk) Joy Davis (Norfolk) Persia Brown (Virginia Beach) Andrea Holley (Norfolk) Victims have reported approximately 500 incidents of the scam, which has resulted in total losses exceeding $2 million. These scams, referred to as the “parking lot scam,” typically involve the offenders approaching individuals near Navy Federal branches and asking them questions before requesting to use their phones. Once granted access, the suspects submit unauthorized loan applications and conduct financial transactions using banking apps on the victims’ devices. The criminals are known to adapt their tactics, sometimes resorting to threats. In one instance, a suspect brandished a firearm while committing the fraud. To execute their scheme, they would initiate fake Personal Expense Consumer Loans through victims’ phones and facilitate the transfer of the illicitly obtained funds. Additionally, suspects would dispute large debits from victims’ accounts, allowing them to unlawfully pocket money. They accessed personal identifiable information and transferred funds using services like Cash App, Venmo, and Zelle, usually erasing digital traces from the victims’ phones by deleting banking app notifications and email alerts. Currently, the indictment connects 33 victims to this criminal scheme, and this number is anticipated to rise as investigations continue. Many of the suspects were reported to travel in rental cars and occasionally include children, likely to gain the victims’ trust. Among those who fell victim to the scam are individuals like Travis Minson and Angel Taylor, who reported significant financial losses after being approached by the scam artists. Despite the alarming rise in reported victims, Navy Federal has not released specific data regarding the number of impacted customers. The credit union has stated they are consistently working to enhance their security protocols to mitigate further occurrence of such scams. According to their policies, members are held financially accountable for transactions deemed authorized. Moreover, victims who reported the scams have faced demands to repay loans fraudulently taken out in their names. Law enforcement agencies emphasize the importance of protecting personal information and advise members of the public to refrain from letting strangers use their phones to minimize the risk of fraud. Community members are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior to the authorities to help combat such schemes. This case highlights a troubling trend in Hampton Roads where individuals are deceived through social engineering tactics, prompting calls for increased awareness and caution among consumers. As investigations progress, authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to curb these fraudulent activities and seek justice for the victims involved. Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic HERE Resources Navy Federal Credit Union Named Top Employer Amid Security Challenges Additional Resources 13 News Now: US Marshals Warn Phone Scam Wikipedia: Scam WTKR: Don’t Lend Your Phone to Strangers Google Search: Phone Safety Scams WTKR: Charges Dropped in Navy Federal Cell Phone Scheme Google Scholar: Phone Scam Prevention 13 News Now: Scam Alert for EZ Pass Users Encyclopedia Britannica: Scams Virginia Mercury: Scams Are Commonplace Google News: EZ Pass Scam
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