On February 23rd, 2025, officers responded to a TD bank in South Florida, where a woman attempted to withdraw $9,000 from a compromised Pennsylvania account using a forged driver's license and a counterfeit debit card issued in the victim's name. TD Bank's fraud systems had blocked every transaction before a dollar moved, and the suspect was already detained inside the branch when officers arrived. >> So, I see lady over there. >> Mhm. He's saying that she's not trying to cash a fake check. She's trying to withdraw 9,000 from the account. He's saying this looks like a fake ID. She's trying to impersonate somebody and that's her like yesterday the phone number changed. Everything changed in the profile yesterday. The phone number changes and she was yesterday. >> No, I can tell. You can tell when somebody changed the phone. Oh man. I see. What exactly did you see? Call me account cuz I've run this ID and nothing is coming back on me. I just So, first thing first, you change the phone number to the account. >> It was it was declining Apple. She the account that was for the debit card. >> It was closed yesterday. >> The debit card was closed. >> It was Apple transaction for 4,000 declined. >> Walmart for,000 was declined. >> Yesterday under that card. Okay. >> 4,000 for Apple and 1,000 for Apple Pay or just >> like Apple store. >> Apple store. >> And that was then and the Apple store was declined. >> Everything was and I guess you went to a different store, a different city bank because no accountable account was taken over by her. Okay. Do you have any information that you can give me on the original account that I can try to contact them and I just talked to our fraud detectives? this in progress fraud I've never had before at all. I've never dealt with anything. I've never been able to verify that who the account belong to. >> I can try calling them. So yeah, so the car was closed the car. The bank the bank closed the car. Why did the bank closed the car? Suspicious. >> Suspicious active. So is it closed or a hole? >> Closed. Like it's closed and this is there any name? This the same name as this is like this address was put in yesterday and her phone number. Her phone number was added to me also. And I was asking her I was like what's your old phone number? She didn't know right away. She had to look down to her phone and tell me. >> Okay. Usually did >> she tell you this number? She didn't after she on her own for like two seconds and then she read it and then told me >> but it was this number. >> Yeah. >> And you said this name was changed. >> No, another name. The address >> the address was added and the phone number. >> What about the names or the name? >> The name the name of this name. Yeah. This name was already there. >> When you render it comes out comes out good. >> No, it does not. That's why um I mean I couldn't find your fake Pennsylvania ID. >> Yeah, I tried it on Google but but I was hard to tell. I looked at mine and when I looked up the ID pictures in Google like everything like sometimes kind of printed like it's not like super clear. The name was always in the on that account. >> Is there any other information on the name like is there a date of birth attached to it like anything? Everything on the account was already there besides the address and phone number. The card was yesterday and all the det 4,000. >> How much is she checking checking savings? I think 9,000 as total and she was draw everything after first. She wanted to get a new card. I told her I wouldn't be able to and she was like, "Okay, can we just draw everything from the savings and checking? Let me take everything out." That's 39,000 in here. I'm just trying to wonder why they would decline it before it would be declined. >> Well, first the account is from Pennsylvania. So it's like 4,000 in South Florida. >> Oh, so the so the account is a Pennsylvania based account. >> That's why the from Pennsylvania is right. >> No, but when I was calling, she had her phone up to her ear. But I'm calling I'm calling from an unknown number probably why >> I'm sorry the person you are trying to reach has a voicemail on us for example I see you at Walmart and I get the client send you a text to your phone I can think to I mean see if she can tell me what's on her license can you give me like the old address and everything and phone account yesterday I'm just trying to I'm Just trying to figure this out. >> That's weird. >> Before see after before after everybody decline 4,000 6,000 6500 23,000 were those all on the same day at the same store. What does that mean? On system did not match. What does that mean? >> Like the number 943 819. >> So that's the original number. >> Yes, ma'am. I need a uh another Pennsylvania ID number. Able to do it if I just only have the ID number. You require >> All right. The ID number I have is what? >> Pennsylvania. Is there a uh is there a date of birth attached to that by chance? >> Typically, so that ID number back to that thing that comes back. Hey, it's Smitty. Hey, I need a favor. I need you to call the uh Clifton Heights Police Department in Pennsylvania and send some uh road units out to a residence to see if they can. So, I need them to go out to this address. I need them to try to make contact. I'm here at the TD Bank in Hollandale and there's somebody who's presented an ID under that name and that address. TD Bank has blocked the account and they believe that this person is trying to commit fraud. So, I'm going to read this to you. >> I'm going to read this to you. some questions that I'm going to ask you. Okay. >> You have the right to remain silent and one will be appointed for you if you wish. >> A couple law classes. >> Do you understand? >> I understand. >> The investigative detention was grounded in Terry versus Ohio 1968, which permits a brief hold based on articulable reasonable suspicion. That standard requires specific objective facts. And here they were supplied by TD Bank in real-time account modifications within 24 hours. Multiple declined transactions and a system photo that did not match the person at the counter. Miranda warnings were administered before any custodial questioning began placing this encounter in compliance with Miranda versus Arizona 1966. The ruling requires advisement of the right to silence, the right to counsel, and that statements may be used in court. The subject acknowledged understanding and every voluntary statement that followed became admissible evidence for the prosecution. Probable cause did not exist at detention. It developed and crystallized when the actual account holder confirmed by phone that the account had been stolen. Under Illinois versus Gates 1983 courts apply a totality of circumstances standard. The ID photo mismatch behavioral inconsistencies, overnight account changes, and the victim's direct confirmation taken together satisfied the constitutional threshold for a lawful arrest. The >> reason why we're here is we're having a little issue with your ID. Okay. >> What's your address? Jeez, now you're making me nervous. Hold on. Cuz I've been in here for so long. >> Listen, I Listen, I understand. I mean, we've been here a while. >> I don't understand why this is happening. I don't understand. I'm just not >> Okay. >> It's just not clicking to me. So, I'm just >> Okay. Basically, the account has been flagged. >> So, we have to verify who you are. >> Okay. >> You understand? Okay. So, can you tell me the address? Um, Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania. >> Did you try to make any other purchases anywhere? >> Trying to go to Walmart. >> Trying to go to Walmart. What Walmart? >> Not this one. >> Not this one. Believe me, I wouldn't want to go to that one. I wouldn't want to go to that one. >> I literally just Googled it. I just typed in Walmart and I just >> Where are you staying here? >> Um, me and my friends are at the hide. >> At the hide. Okay. >> That's why I came down here. >> What? Uh, what room number? >> I'm not sure. >> You don't know the room number? I don't know. It's on the 16th floor. It's me and a bunch of girls like or >> Yeah, but even then, I mean, I've gone on guys trips to the Keys and I've been in a room with four guys and I know my room number. >> I I mean, I guess I just I'm just here for a good time. I don't know. >> I mean, I don't know anybody if you don't know your room number. >> I'm going to call my friend. Like, it's a bunch of us in the room right now that's getting ready. I've been here over an hour. >> Like, what day did you come in town? >> Um, like 2 days ago. And how long are you staying till? >> A week. >> A week. So what's your departure date? >> March second. >> March second. Can you just pull your mask down for me so I can see your face? >> It's all right. Every everybody's everybody's sick. It's going around. My little guy and wife are both sick with a freaking stomach bug at home. You have one kid. >> That's all I want. He's a Tasmanian devil enough. >> Yeah. >> It'll get better. >> It'll get better. >> Sorry. Pull down for me one more time so I can see. Okay. When did you change your phone number? >> Um I've had a number for like a little bit, but I changed my number yesterday. >> Can you tell me what the last four of your card are? >> I got it yesterday. So, I think it's um >> you got the card >> 94 or 4944 or 944. >> Why did you get the card yesterday? >> Cuz I told you they tried to um send a card out to my house, but I'm not there. So, they told me that I can just come into a branch. >> What branch did you get this card from? >> Um somewhere over by the the Walmart that I went to. Again, it's not this one. So, I don't know. Like Yeah. I don't know. >> The guitar. >> The guitar. Yeah. So she said she WAS ISSUED THIS CALL yesterday at like a branch near the hard rock. >> Yeah. I just I just don't know if she's able to recite everything on her ID. But that account does come that second number you gain does come back. Okay. And she just pulled down her face. >> She said she was initially trying to buy three phones. >> Two phones? >> Yeah. At the client where she tried to write two phones. >> What is it then? >> Your boyfriend's fired. >> No, he wasn't. He wasn't there yesterday. He wasn't there. You're fine. Dude, it was like that would be so embarrassing. Like I would be so embarrassed if they're like you guys check. I'd be like, "Bro, like come on now." >> So when she was trying to take out all she was trying to take out. >> She said everything out of the account. She said, "00id like a photo hidden system." Oh, say it was 61 on the family plan and everything. You didn't take the number. >> Yeah. 610 is like the Pennsylvania like 05. What's number >> you changed it yesterday? How do you how do you remember that? >> She had a new number for a while. See that other system? That's something that like cheeks are more like it sucks because it's like cut off like cut off super. >> Yeah, but they have the same date of birth like in my system. It was the exact same date of birth. This is her old card right here. Smart trip to Washington. Yeah. >> How'd you guys travel down here? You and your friends. >> On a flight. >> On a flight. >> And he just he literally just asked me the same question. >> You're not going to inform me that you ask these question. He asked him. I'm sorry. He asked. Yeah. He asked me question. >> Yeah. He didn't ask me anything while you were gone. You guys flew down here. >> Scared me though. I don't want to either. >> Was it a direct flight? >> Yeah. >> You think I'm Washington? No charges in Washington, anything like that? >> Not that I know of. Maybe that was the charge that they had texted me about because I didn't even really read the transaction. They said, "Is this you?" I knew it wasn't. So, I said no. And then >> when did you get that text message? >> Like I said, like 3 days ago. >> 3 days ago. Can you check the trash on your phone? Cuz when you delete messages, normally the text message will normally the text message will stay in your in your phone's trash for about 30 days. I don't even have any like deleted messages like that. It automatically deletes out of my phone. Like I have it set up literally to like any code that comes in or any like >> probably change that. >> Yeah, I should. Right. >> Do you can can you remember anywhere else where you may have like charged on your old card or anything like that? >> Amazon. >> Amazon. >> Yeah. >> Do you remember the old card's last four numbers by chance? I think it was like >> 368 or 3681. I know it was 36 something. >> Something like that. I'm really not totally sure to be honest. I have so many. Okay. What were the last four? >> Last one >> car that the last one that was like supposedly canceled out. >> 3681. She gave That's the number that she gave me. I'm starting to think this is her. >> Yeah. >> And he even said the other employee like verified her ID and the information system and the one before her before her didn't go through. She said it was like fake but then the other one said the phone number starting to think in this or it's her. >> Is there any Can you see anything like Amazon? last year ago two days ago. I think it's her the picture. >> Sometimes they go really into it. They do a sense on a card on the phone. Hello. It was stolen. Three charges resulted. Possession of counterfeit credit cards two or more under Florida statute section 817.60, a secondderee felony with a maximum of 15 years. Unauthorized possession of a forged driver's license under section 322.212, a thirdderee felony. And criminal use of personal identification under section 817.568 elevated to a secondderee felony because the value targeted exceeded $5,000. The $9,000 balance cleared that threshold before any retail fraud is added. The officer receives a B+. Miranda was timely and correctly delivered. The investigation was disciplined. No arrest was made until victim confirmation arrived and crossjurisdictional coordination with Pennsylvania authorities was both tactically sound and constitutionally necessary to establish probable cause. Points deducted for repetitive interrogation sequences that introduced unnecessary inconsistency risk into the evidentiary record. The subject receives a D. After Miranda warnings were acknowledged, she continued speaking voluntarily, confirming the phone number changed the new card issuance, the Walmart visit, and the intent to withdraw all funds. Each statement corroborated the criminal timeline. The Fifth Amendment right to remain silent carries no trial penalty when exercised. Waving it as occurred here produces consequences no defense strategy can undo after the fact. TD Bank receives an A minus. Real-time fraud monitoring blocked every transaction before funds moved and staff provided officers with a complete account record that made the investigation efficient. The deduction applies to a separate branch that issued a counterfeit card in the victim's name. The day prior, a gap in inter branch fraud controls that gave the scheme its operational window before this branch intervened. Three lessons. Account takeover moves within hours. In this case, a phone number was changed, a card was issued, and purchases were attempted across multiple retailers all within one day. Realtime account change alerts are the first line of defense and fraud controls must be consistent across every branch in a network, not only the location where the suspect is eventually caught. Miranda is a constitutional boundary, not a formality. Crossing into custodial interrogation without proper advisement can suppress every statement that follows, regardless of content, and probable cause must precede arrest. The officer waited for direct victim confirmation before acting, and that discipline is what makes the arrest legally durable. Rushing that sequence is how cases get dismissed before trial begins. >> Favor, put the phone down for me. >> Put the phone down. You're under arrest. >> My phone so I can call that. Would you be able to come in there so we don't make sure they don't tell me? I didn't come here. You just walk. Uber. Okay. Man, what do you want us to do with this car that you got the keys for? That's sounding off. You want us to They're going to end up towing it. How do you want us to take care of it? >> Can you call somebody to get it? >> Is it a rental car? >> No, it's my friend's car. But >> your friend's car. Does your friend live in South Florida? Is this a Pennsylvania friend also? >> No, she lives here. >> Okay. >> But can I call somebody to come get it? >> Told her I forgot my key. >> I'm not going to run. >> Doesn't work. Hey, you wouldn't get far anyway. Let us know if there is an interaction or a legal topic that you would like us to discuss in the comments below.