So, >> I thought it was a scam, >> but I just Yeah, I thought it was, but she I just my >> Why do you have a fake ID? >> For me a long time ago. >> Yeah, I forgot that was you in my >> Yeah, >> you're being arrested, by the way. Don't touch your phone. >> You thought it was going to be free ride here. Come on board the ship. Charge whatever you want and you ain't going to get caught. But guess what? On February 8th, 2024, police were called to a cruise ship at Port Canaveral, Florida, where a female passenger allegedly used stolen credit cards to book a voyage on Virgin Voyages, a scheme that would quickly unravel once aboard. Ship security had already detained the woman before law enforcement arrived. The suspect claimed a stranger she met online arranged the cruise for just $500, far below the actual cost of over $1,200. >> Did somebody ask you to come on the cruise ship and do something? >> Uh, no. She just No. >> Uh, no. >> She just what? >> She just what? >> Go ahead. >> Nothing. >> What did she tell you to do? >> Whoever she is. Listen. Did >> But it should be my name though. Why did the person tell you to come on the cruise today? You've never been on a cruise before. You booked your cruise recently. Who told you to come on the cruise? >> Someone booked the cruise and they told us the um you know they asked about the excursions and basically it was something to do to get away. >> So someone told you to book the cruise, they booked it for you. >> Who is that? >> I don't know her. >> How did you find out about her? So some stranger just >> No, they would No, it was on the internet. >> It was on the internet. >> So some stranger on the internet that you don't know >> basically saying I'll pay for your cruise >> if you do what? >> If you do what? >> No. And you have to pay you have to pay them. You have to cash out money and everything. I never asked no questions how much or none of that. She told me I need to give her some money to your friend. All this. So >> So it's through cash app. So you have the invoice on the Cash App app. Uh, no. No. Narcash apps. Uh, she stay in the city so I can actually go up, you know. >> Did that same person tell you to get this? >> Huh? >> Did that same person the cash app? Same person you >> What? >> We're talking about the lady. >> Uhhuh. >> Did she tell you to get this? >> No. No. That was through that was for something totally different. >> She went up with ACI login. >> Yeah, that wasn't for the cruise. >> But what did she tell you to do on a cruise? >> My office, please. >> Nothing. >> ACI login. She asked if we want to go and you know to pay her. That's it. That's all. >> So, what did you pay her? How much? >> Yeah. >> How much did you pay her? >> Huh? >> How much did you pay her? >> Uh, just a couple hundreds. >> You paid her a couple hundred to go on a cruise. >> Give me a number. >> 500. >> So, $500. >> Uhhuh. >> To go on this cruise today. >> Yes. >> What did that $500 give you? >> Um, here. And to go on the excursions. the excursions. >> Yeah, but we never did the excursions though. >> How much did it cost to book a cruise today? How much did it cost? >> I don't know. He told me I owed 1,200. >> So, who's the lady? What's her name? >> I don't know her name. >> Then how did you pay her? >> Cuz I went through I don't know the lady name. I don't I barely even know the lady like that. But I >> You paid $500 to be on this ship today. >> Yes. because it cost you over $1,200 to actually be on the ship. So, who paid for the difference? >> Uh, she said all I had to do was just pay for my flight. >> So, you only paid for your flight. >> Yes. And gave her my money. >> What did she ask you to do on the ship? >> Nothing. >> Huh? >> Yes. What' she ask you to do on the ship? >> Nothing. Right now, >> no one in their right mind is going to let you pay zero like $500 for a voyage that's well over $1,200 >> for you to do absolutely nothing. And you don't even know this person. So, >> I thought it was a scam, >> but I just Yeah, I thought it was, but she I just I did it. >> Why did you think that? >> Because she was saying she could do it at the end. So, >> cuz she said what? Can you repeat that? >> H I'm not sure what you said. Can you repeat yourself? >> I thought I was going to be able to do it, but she told me to just book the uh plane ticket and then she was like, you know, you got to leave. So, >> yeah. Leave and then what? >> Uh come here. >> And then what? be on the cruise. >> Mhm. And do what? >> Uh, she said we do the drinking. >> Um, >> [ __ ] I ain't even did I mean I >> do the drinking. >> Yeah, do the drinking. Get off the boat. Get off the boat. Do what we need to do. Other than that, that's it. >> Before you said that the the lady wanted you to take excursions. >> Mhm. >> Okay. But you didn't take them. >> No, not today. >> Before we ask any question, you have to understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. And you have a lawyer with you during questioning if you cannot afford a lawyer. >> How long me to finish, please? >> You have a right to talk to a lawyer for advice before you ask you any questions. And you have a lawyer with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you for any question if you wish. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you? I just wanted to ask you some questions. All right. All right. Okay. >> You want the Do you want the door shut or >> I'm going to get locked up? >> We're going to get to that. >> Fake. Real or real? Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. Where's the credit cards? >> I don't have any credit cards. >> The credit cards? >> The credit cards you tried to use? >> Wait, what you mean? I haven't tried to use anyone's uh credit on here. Huh? >> I haven't tried. >> Is this your purse? >> Yeah. Them not my debit cards aren't from on here. >> Are these yours? This is your purse, correct? >> Yeah. >> So, what were you using to pay for the ship, the drinks, the food? >> They said it was already paid for. So, >> well, they have you um trying to make purchases cuz obviously they charge you back. >> No, I haven't even made any purchases. >> Who's Mark Curry? >> My uh That's my uncle. I just was telling him that. >> Mhm. And he should have a uh >> was your grandpa. >> We could call him. >> Matter of fact, we can call Daniel to verify this. >> Why do they have a fake ID? >> Yeah. I forgot that was even in my wallet. >> Yeah. Yeah. And also to see which card was paid for reservations. Okay. Yeah, I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. You can help. >> I'm here. My >> you there >> under 18. USC section 129. Unauthorized use of stolen credit card numbers to obtain goods or services is a federal felony. The gap between what she paid and the true fair pointed directly to fraudulent booking. During questioning, the suspect admitted she thought the deal was a scam, but proceeded anyway. Under federal law, this willful blindness doctrine can substitute for actual knowledge of criminal activity. Officers administered Miranda warnings as required by Miranda versus Arizona 1966 before continuing the interrogation. The suspect chose not to invoke her right to silence and continued providing inconsistent statements. A fraudulent identification document was discovered in the suspect's purse. Under Florida statute section 322.212, possession of a fake ID is a thirdderee felony carrying up to 5 years in prison. The interrogation revealed a cruise fraud scheme. Stolen cards are used to book voyages and expensive excursions. A recruit boards the ship, cancels the excursions, and attempts to redirect the refund back to the fraudster. This scheme exploits the lag between online booking systems and fraud detection. Recruits, sometimes called money mules, serve as the final link, whether fully aware of the crime or deliberately kept ignorant. Ship security confirmed the alert came from Virgin Voyages shoreside office. However, the vessel's team lacked key details, including the victim card holders name, revealing gaps in internal fraud communication protocols. The investigating officer identified a critical flaw. Virgin Voyages did not verify that the payment card name matched the passenger's ID at embarcation. This single missing check enabled the entire fraudulent boarding. A small quantity of marijuana was also found among the suspect's belongings. Though legal in her home state of Massachusetts, possession violates Florida statute section 893.13, adding another criminal count to her situation. The suspect was arrested and charged with possession of a fraudulent identification document. Federal credit card fraud charges under 18USC section 1028 remained under investigation at the time of the arrest. The officer noted that Virgin Voyages had been targeted by this same fraud scheme repeatedly. Yet the basic security fix remained unimplemented. Systemic vulnerabilities left unressed become open invitations for organized fraud. >> Hello. >> Hello. How are you? I'm on a cruise ship. How are you? >> Cuz this is a fraud case. They're using credit cards that were stolen and I'm here trying to unfuck it. Something like that. What's up? Probably. Oh, I know. I know. I don't think I'll get there. I got I got to undo this thing. I already called Haley on this. Haney had a similar case about two months ago. >> I got to go. Call me. Okay. >> Yeah, I'll let you know how it goes. You said the lady that booked the cruise for you with her card. >> I guess. Yeah. >> You guess. You said that uh she also booked the excursions for you prior to you getting on the ship. >> Yeah. >> And then what? You were supposed to come aboard, cancel the excursions, so she got the money back. >> Yes. No. Is that what was happening? >> You do know. Was that was that what we were told to do? >> What does she continue to do? Remember how I said we have facts? >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Remember how I said I can continue to give the facts along the way because we know you're not being truthful. So what did she tell you to do with the excursions? >> She tell you to to cancel them. >> I just cancel them. >> Yeah. So >> you didn't answer my question. >> But it didn't say >> she'd tell you to cancel. That's what she told you to do. >> Go ahead. She told you to go ahead and cancel the excursion so she gets the money back. >> Uh, right. >> The um, >> but she uh, they said we can't get money back anyway. >> Why don't you start from the beginning? >> Yes. >> What happened? >> So basically we're notified from the shore side office that it was activities on the credit card that it's reported that it's not authorized payment and then it came to us. Was this the card they used to book the trip? >> So we we No, it's different card. >> So how did you get alerted that the fraud was on it? >> Wow. That's something that we need to check with the office. >> So you went and checked the card, but you went and talked to the people. What happened after that? They they let you know that the card was not used. >> So we don't have the contact with the from shore side. You can you can but I don't I >> I just need a coherence story here. >> So basically we were notified from the office that fraudal activity was done on the card. We cannot collect the payments. >> Okay. And that was for charges on board the ship >> and the and the voyage fair as well. >> So it was for the voyage. >> Yeah, it was for the voyage of course. And it's two different cards are used. One is used for the payment for the voyage. >> Mhm. >> And apparently different one is here on board. >> A different card that was here. All right. >> But you don't know who the card belongs to. That was fraudulent. >> No, not give us that. That's from our shore side. Shai Ael is our chief security officer for the company. They give us only if we need to follow up here. >> But >> so you don't even know the card name on the person's name on the card. >> So I think that could be helpful for >> they don't have because that communication that we received was by email. So we don't have all >> Okay. >> Can your offshore uh security advisor get that for you guys in order for us to >> Yeah. will be financial department. >> So, how do you determine that it was her? >> They gave us the numbers. >> Numbers for what? >> Numbers. >> All right. But how do how do we get to this lady? >> So, by the booking number and by the >> Was she the only one in the room? >> Yes. >> All right. >> And she was the one you have video of her trying to make these charges. >> We don't have that short side. It's everything booking are done privilege. >> Okay. Okay. So, you don't have video of her using the card illegally? >> No. >> Okay. So, all we have is a fake ID. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I will show you. This is the email that we receive it. >> Mhm. >> Like with the title. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> And Okay. What do you guys want done? >> From our side, we try we will try to charge the credit cards. >> Well, it's not going to work. >> Yeah. But >> but see, for me to make a charge, I have to have a victim. I don't I don't have I have what I have card that's bad but I don't have the card. >> Okay. Will you follow up what you need to follow up? >> Yeah. >> She's not she's not carrying either card made with the voyages or uh with with any of the excursions. She's not carrying. >> So you don't check cards when they come on. >> So there is a system how they put online online payment if it goes through. >> But you Okay. I I think there's a flaw there. All right. Well, you're going, so let's go. You're being arrested, by the way. And don't touch your phone. Okay. Do you have anything to say? >> Can I tell? >> No. >> Is she? >> No. >> She Okay. >> They're all getting kicked off. You're getting charged. You're getting charged with a felony for possessing a fake ID. >> Yes, that's happening. >> Okay. >> You got you got involved in this thing >> and this is how it's ending. You knew it was a possibility, correct? They probably told you there was no way they could do that. >> The ID didn't have nothing to it. >> I know, but they're still charging you for it. >> Okay. >> Do you understand? You got into this. >> Okay. >> All right. >> All right. Get up. >> What? >> Can I try to charge this car with her name? >> No, he don't need to touch my toys cuz I just told him he could do it. He just took all day just to do it. >> Where's the card you used? >> I don't got no coins. I told him he could have if I could use uh tap. He said no. >> Where's the card you use for to buy the purchases? >> I didn't do it. Somebody else wasn't for me. >> You're still not willing to get >> Can I let her know that I'm >> No, you're under arrest. >> All courtesy is gone. >> Okay. >> You've been arrested before? >> No. >> Never. traffic. >> Mhm. >> How long behind you? We'll >> provide you >> from the office. >> You want to help yourself? Start talking. You don't want to help yourself. I don't really care. >> You got yourself into this mess. They told you what's going to happen and they told you how to do this whole scam. Do you understand? >> Do you? >> Yes. >> You're a big girl. You understand exactly what happened. You thought it was going to be a free ride here. Come on board the ship. Charge whatever you want and you ain't going to get caught. But guess what? >> You caught? No. >> You want to help yourself? >> Yes or no? >> Yes. You still don't lock me up for the ID. >> I didn't do nothing. >> Oh, you did something. Listen, I can I can write this report real easy. Credit card fraud on board the ship. >> Extremely Listen. extremely unhelpful, >> didn't want to help herself, >> charged her with it, and then I just dunk it in. Or I could write in she was very sorry for what she did or she understood. She got involved in a scam. She had no idea about it. >> I didn't. That's what I was just explaining to her. >> Yeah. I didn't I never knew it was a scam. The excursions or >> You knew that credit card wasn't good and you told him when to do the buyback on that thing. You think that's legal? >> Say it again. >> The buyback on the cruise excursion. Do you think that's legal? Did you? >> No, I never did a buyback. >> When you cancelled? >> Oh, I just all I did was the uh cabana thing for tomorrow. That's the only thing that was cancelled. Nothing else was canceled for the pearl sal. >> And who gets the money for that? >> I don't The man told me that it goes on. >> Who's the man >> that I came down here to talk to? Someone at the front desk. >> Who Who's the lady? That's the question because you told me the lady. Who is Ann? >> Yes. >> Who is Ann? >> Someone from that I met through a person. >> Yeah, but you see how it said someone who I met. That's not helping. You're not helping yourself. >> Who is Ann? >> Somebody. >> Come on. Let's go. >> I met her. >> So before he can charge the cards for the >> Okay. >> You can if you want to. >> So if Okay. So if he was to charge my cards, then what? >> Doesn't matter. >> Okay. Well, put my purse down cuz if you if you if you going to charge my cards, I'm still getting locked up. >> Yes, because different felony doesn't have to go on this one. >> Okay. Well, no. >> I don't know. Go ahead. I don't even care. >> Did you have any working credit card? >> Huh? I can I can tell her that I don't want to be like in the other side. I have one. What? I have another passenger that was in position of small quantity of marijuana. >> I want to ask you I can hand over. >> Give it to the other guy. And I have enough I got enough problems with this thing already. >> Lord man dumping everything on me. I know you >> Yeah, I know. They keep dumping stuff on me like I'm the personal security. >> What's up? >> That was that was my >> That was my little bit of >> That's like a That's a problem. >> Yeah. >> I didn't know that. I'm from Massachusetts. >> Yeah, it's a problem. >> Okay, great. And anything else that you need from them for sure will be there. Okay. >> All this background information about the payment system and everything can give you >> all that great if we have a name that's associated. >> They don't have all we don't have here because of the >> I call you also for >> Hold on. Hold on. Back up. >> You know him also. >> You don't go until I say so. You understand? >> Okay. >> Okay. We have another situation with another sailor that we found him in position marijuana. >> You can handle that. >> Clear your hallway out there. So she doesn't talk this one. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Come on, man. Don't >> I was just trying to sell someone who I came with. >> No, you you don't get that luxury. >> I didn't do nothing. >> Yeah, you did. You're using illegal credit cards on board the ship and you booked the ship with it. >> NO, I DID NOT. >> AND YOU BOOKED YOUR CRUISE ILLEGALLY. >> NO, I did not. >> I never booked anything. >> I got the card, but she booked the cruise. The last four digits. I got it. >> Okay. >> All right. So, you you were on board with [ __ ] cards and none of them worked. >> I told you. So, how do you explain that? >> Thank you. >> Asked him, did he use Apple? I mean, did they have Apple Pay or Tap? I asked him. He said, "No." >> You came aboard a cruise ship with a ton of credit cards. None of them worked except Especially the ones in your name. >> Okay. >> It has to be in your name. >> Yeah. The tap is in my name. Apple Pay. >> Okay. >> Do you want to take anything else? Phone? Anything? >> I'm asking you. [music] >> No, no, no. here. Let's go through this suitcase. >> I don't know. >> Can I Can I give that to someone? >> Huh? >> Can I Would I be able to get that to someone? >> You're asking me to be >> help you out when you've been so helpful to me. >> Is that what you're asking? That's what you're asking me to be is me to extend a courtesy to you after you've been so forthcoming. >> I've been eating. >> Okay. So, we understand each other now. [music] Your purse is coming with us with your phone. >> All right. >> Would I be able to give >> I'm pretty sure you're she's banned for life for cruising. >> Yeah. >> Hope so. >> 27 going to have one 1015 female. coming. >> Hold on. I mean, >> same ship every time. They get hit and they wonder why. >> Carnival. >> Yeah, >> it's not a carnival. It's It's virgin. They get hit all the time cuz they don't have simple basic security in place like check the name to the card. You know, if she didn't have that fake ID. >> Yes. >> Lesson one, willful blindness is not a legal defense. Accepting an unusually cheap deal from a stranger and asking no questions can make you criminally liable under federal fraud statutes, regardless of direct intent. Lesson two, state law does not travel with you. Substances or documents legal in your home state may still constitute serious felonies in your destination state as Florida law made clear in this case. Lesson three. Miranda rights exist to protect you. The suspect continued speaking after her rights were read, providing statements used against her. Invoking the right to silence and requesting an attorney is always a valid choice. Lesson four. For businesses, a single unverified field, the card holder name, can expose an entire booking system to fraud. Matching payment credentials to passenger identity at imbarcation is a minimal and essential safeguard. The woman left Port Canaveral not on vacation, but in custody, likely banned from cruising for life. As Florida law enforcement often says, "Come on vacation, leave on probation." The consequences of this scheme were both swift and severe. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like us to cover in the comments below. Thank you for watching.