Why earn a paycheck when you can lie, cheat, and steal? That was the plan for these people until the police stepped in. Here are five cases when cops surprised the out of scammers in the act. Number five. Romance scam victim gets arrested after being tricked into doing the scammers dirty work. On August 20th, 2025, officers in Vero Beach, Florida responded to a local bank after reports of a man attempting to cash a fraudulent check. Upon arrival, the staff wasted no time telling the officers what led to the call. All right. Good morning. Um so he had a check. Uh he he's going to assume these checks are real and I we suspect it's from the same person. Okay. >> Um And this is what it looks like, but I mean He just explained if he tried to put that in his account and send it to whoever the recipient is that the check would not only be returned, but then the money that they sent, you know what I mean? He would be negative. So um we're just trying to explain him that it's fraudulent pretty much. >> Okay. He keeps receiving these checks, a lot of them. >> Why would you think they sent you this check? Did you do any work, I mean, for them? So what what's What do you think you're getting them now? Why would they send you that much money? She said I was uh considered her fiance. Do you know who they are? Did he say she wanted you to sell a house for her or something? No, not a house. Okay. Sell something. Yeah, nobody's going to send you a check like that just because. It's either you're going to be doing work for them and then they're going to pay you for your service. So this has happened a lot. So if we deposit that check, Sean, and it comes back, the bank is going to close your account, meaning we cannot reopen that account because we talked to you about it. We've seen this before. Okay. So um So like they were asking, like what makes you think Mhm. that like do you know these people? Do you know where this this is actually coming from? No. I have an envelope from the last check you received. I scanned it. There's a There's a totally different address on there as well. Okay. So basically he's been receiving multiple um checks in the mail and every time that he's tried to um deposit them, they've obviously not gone through. And they're trying to just inform him that this is fraudulent. >> He insists the money came from a woman he met online, supposedly his girlfriend. And to the officers, the situation sounds like a classic romance scam. It's a scam. >> Why are you Why are you receiving the checks then? I don't know. You don't So So you just You don't know these people. Somebody sent you a check and you're just trying to cash it. >> Well, she said I was her fiance. Who is her? Who is she? Who you're referring to? Her name is Rose. So somebody >> [music] >> Somebody that you don't know? No, I know her. Well, I know her. Well, how do you know her? What's her relation to you? Um she's a real good friend. For how long? Um How long have Have you met this person? No. Have you met them online? No. Well, yeah. On Facebook, Instagram? Um Just on Facebook online. Zingy Zingy. Huh? Is it a dating app? >> No, Zingy, yeah. >> It's a dating app. Okay. So So a young lady that you met on a dating app is sending you checks to cash in your name. And what does she want you to do with those checks? She wants me to get um Apple cards. Right, and send them to her. Yeah. Right. So they're scamming you. This is a scam. Okay. So and that is probably a fake profile. Okay. Okay. So how long have you been receiving these checks? This is the This is the only This is the check I cashed. This is the last one that you brought and it seems like these they're made out to from real companies. Mhm. Yeah, they can make these checks. This isn't the first time the officers have seen this play out. The man is just a small piece in a larger scam in which fake checks are mailed en masse and victims are tricked into sending back gift cards or card numbers. Yeah. So this this is This is just a scam. So what they do is they contact multiple people. They build a relationship and a rapport with you and then they tell you, "Hey, do me a favor. Can you cash this check and send me back the check in gift cards?" And then they take those gift cards because that money overdrafts your account once they find out that the check is fraudulent. The you are have the burden of paying that money back because you've already taken that money and given it to them. So it's a scam. So you're probably not talking to a female. It's probably just somebody using her as a friend. Okay. So what we do is we take the checks, take the envelope, we do take an initial and forward it up to Medic Credit. Most likely is very hard to track because they they are doing it and they usually do it through the mail. Okay. This is her. Who? Which one? Rose. >> So when you click on Rose's profile, where did you get her number from? From Zingy? No, I got it from uh Did you cash the check already? No. Okay. The first check that he deposited, did you cash it? Okay. So he has He's not out any money, right? >> No. So the bank would be the victim, not him. Okay. He's just the complainant. We just We I was just collecting these just in case like some I don't know. I just I just had pictures just in case. So nobody's out any money. No. He didn't get it It's right. And you And you guys didn't cash it. It didn't go through. So really there's There's really no victim of activity. Okay. So We kind of wanted somebody to explain to him further what's going on. I kind of tried to explain it and so did Renee, but we just wanted cuz I know you guys have had a lot of experience with this. So we kind of just wanted to talk to him a little bit just to inform him that this is what they do. Now the officer takes a moment to break it all down, explaining how the scam works and where the man stands in the investigation. So no one's out of it. There's no exchange of funds. So you're you're technically not a victim. You're just being scammed over the phone, really, and they're sending you these things. Thank God the bank was able to catch it so that you you weren't out of the money. Um if the bank was out of the money and they had to reimburse themselves, then the bank would be considered the victim, not you, because the bank is covered by the FDIC. So they're the ones that have to, you know, recoup those funds. So but being that nobody is out of the money, it's really just an information report, possible scam alert that people are, you know, this is very common. They meet people through dating websites. They butter you up. I had a lady down south that was out $2 million. So this is definitely a like a live thing. You be careful on these dating sites. That's why I asked you if you ever met this person in in person or like in real life. So um you know, like I said, good job on the bank and good job for you bringing it here and reporting it. Don't go to the ATM. If you get another check, if you get another check, just bring it to the police station and let them know that I keep receiving these checks and it's fraud. Do not attempt to cash them. The ATM. They're trying to send them to the ATM. Yeah, because if it goes through the ATM, the ATM will Some Some banks have that automatic deposit and then they'll catch it later and then you're out of the money. That's why they don't want you to talk to someone because they're going to live see that this check is coming back fraudulent. Where ATM is just a computer. It's going to push it through, think it's real. So that's why they tell you don't mobile deposit checks from people that you don't know. I don't feel like I'm worried to be. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, that's a good explanation pretty much. Um Do you have all his information? Oh, so Um Do you by chance have your ID? It would just be the easiest way to I do have my ID, but I can tell you basically everything I know. Um and I believe it was asked of Ray, but I just wanted to verify. How long have you been receiving these checks? The man shares that his online girlfriend from Canada has been sending him checks for 6 months. The officers suspect he's just caught in the middle, but they still have plenty of difficult questions to ask. With that, they begin reading him his rights. Just cuz I have some further questions for you, I don't want you to take this the wrong way. But just so you're aware, I'm going to read you your rights. Doesn't mean that you're being placed under arrest. Doesn't mean that you're currently in trouble. It's just you have rights and you have um the right to know them, okay? So you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to an a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning. Um you can decide to at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions and make statements, okay? Do you understand the rights that have been read to you? Okay, with these rights in mind, do you want to speak with me? I have doubts in my heart, so why not? Okay. So, like I said, too, so really what we're just trying to figure out um Like like my partner was saying, you know, you did attempt to do this once before and were told that um they were fraud. What what made you come back and decide to do it again? She's persistent. She being her? Yeah. Okay, so you said Rose is persistent. Yeah. Okay. Did you think for some reason that there was a you know, what what made you think that I get that you're saying that she's persistent, but she's still sending fake checks. So, you you understand what I'm saying? If they've already told you the first one, what makes you think the second one's going to be good? Did she inform you in any way? Did she say, "Oh, I'm sorry. Is there This is the reason this first one didn't go through" or By now, it's clear that his feelings for this woman clouded his judgment, blinding him to what should have been obvious red flags. She called him her fiance. Okay. And she said that after her dad's death in Canada that I was her I would since I'm her fiance, I'd be the only one to cash checks for her. Okay, because she's out of country, I guess. >> Yeah. And she's trying to get you to get Apple cards and send them back to her? Yeah. Did she give you a different address to send them back to? Did she give you an address at all to send them back to? Um No. Just to snap it and I just wanted to ask you. All right, she she told you to snap it back to her? Yes. Like Snapchat? No. Just Oh, like a screenshot? >> Yeah. Okay. Back to that number, okay. >> Yep. Okay. Did you notice that both of those are coming from different areas? Did she give you an explanation as to why? No, I didn't notice that. >> Why? Okay. Did you notice it though? That one was coming from Delaware and one's coming from Utah and if she's supposed to be coming from Canada? I really didn't make the connection. Okay. That didn't raise any red flags or anything? Is there >> Okay, is there anybody else that she's been talking to? Has she given you somebody else's information? >> Yeah. Kate. Kate. Who's Kate? Kate Williams. Kate Williams? Okay. >> Kate Williams and she uh she mailed me the uh check in Ontario. Um not true. Uh she uh in The man then reveals he's been talking to multiple women online, each claiming to be in some kind of desperate situation. For now, the officer just listens. Okay. So, this Kate Williams and then Rose have both been trying to get money from you. Yeah. Okay, what was the explanation from Kate? The first time she uh said she's hungry. She had no food. She didn't have any food, but she's a chef? Yeah, and well, she put her thumb She got fired, so then she said afterwards that she has a son. Okay. And I actually had a sore spot because I was uh thrown out of the house in Alaska. Okay. And uh I know how it is working without food. Mhm. So, I sent 25 to her. $25? >> Yeah, well, Apple card. You sent a $25 Did she send you a check prior to that? No. That was just out of your pocket? >> Yeah. Okay. Where did you send that? Did you screenshot it to her as well? Yes. Okay. Okay. She as in Kate has not sent you any uh checks though, has she? >> No. Okay, so it's just been this Rose Yeah. person and these are the only two checks that you've received so far? Yes. Okay. So, I'm assuming that they have your information, obviously your address and everything. Correct? And these are the only two though that you've been in contact with that have asked you for money? Yes. Okay. Did you ever text her about the first time you came here and they told you that the check is no good, did you text her that? Or no? Well He admits the check raised suspicions and that he had second thoughts about cashing it. However, despite the doubts, he went through with it and attempted to cash the check. And this admission changes everything. Okay, so let me ask you, why why would you do that? What made you come in here versus attempting to like cuz The reason why I ask you this question is because did you have any indication in that time that this is weird and there's a reason that I'm having her shred this versus attempting to actually try to correct it? Did they ever tell you not to bring in any more checks that look fraudulent or appear fraudulent? She did tell me that. Who's she? Rose. Okay, so repeat that. She said that not to bring in any more checks? Um to bring in just goes through the ATM. >> Okay. So, don't bring in But me being the curious one, I brought it in. Showed it to her and she said So, so you had some suspicion. It sounds like. Okay. Were you were you more or less like hoping it was real kind of thing? I don't really know. Okay. All right, man. So, let me just ask you. Did you know the second check was the one you brought in today? Yeah. You knew it was counterfeit and you still tried to cash it. Yeah. Okay. There you go. You Miranda'd him, right? Mhm. I already sent it to him. Sent it to Sent it to him. What you doing? You're going to be arrested for Okay. Why am I being arrested Uttering a forged check. The man doesn't resist, so the officer places the cuffs in front and walks him through the reasoning, making sure he understands what's happening. The other hand like that? You good there? Okay, you good? Just hold it there, okay. You make sure you call it out on uh dispatch. All right, here we're going to do this, okay? We're going to just cuff you in the front, okay? You understand what's going on, right? Not really. Not really? Okay, here. Do it Can maybe if you go like this, it'll be easier. There you go. So, it is illegal. You good there? Are you pinched? You got that thing? No, it's a little tight. Okay, let me undo it for you a little bit. So, you can't try to cash a check that you know is forged, okay? That is uttering a false check and that is illegal, okay? It was one thing if you didn't know, right? But you admitted to me post-Miranda that it was illegal, that you knew that it was uh that it was forged, okay? Want you to get in there, brother. What's it like? I Just give me your butt. No, I can't get in. What you got? Hey, let me help. How do I help? There you go. There you go. Just get a little bit more. Sean. Yeah. Is there anything specifically that you want to take to the jail with you? Do you want just your wallet, your phone? I'm on medication. Okay, your medication that little black thing? No, my medication at home. Okay, wait, there's a nurse staff at the jail that'll help you out with that, okay? Just scoop scoop your leg a little bit more cuz otherwise you're going to sit. Yeah, on your person. Do you want your wallet, your phone? We'll just take all of it. He had like knives or something. Well, yeah, uh knives can't go. We'll take that as contraband property. Or actually I was thinking we could probably put that little thing in Yeah, we could just take this little thing cuz it's broke. Okay, so you understand what happened, right? While he may have been misled, the law still applies. The man was formally charged with uttering a forged check. Number four, woman tries skipping out on a $500 tab and finds herself arrested minutes later. On January 21st, 2025, officers were called to a local restaurant after staff reported an intoxicated woman who not only refused to settle her bill, but also wouldn't leave the premises. Watch what happens once the police arrived to diffuse the situation. She was being very disrespectful and we didn't know which way it was You guys good? I am good. I'm going to take care of it. Well, both of you are going to hang out until the restaurant >> going to stay. Both both of you are, okay? It's a $500 bill. You walk out on that You don't want to get arrested over not paying a tab, okay? Is this like a first date? You guys been together for a while? I don't Why are you looking at me like I'm crazy? I'm just asking you a question. Yeah. Hello. Me. Like this isn't just a costume. It's not Halloween. Listen to me. You pay the tab, leave. You pay It doesn't matter. YOU DON'T WANT TO LISTEN. SIR, LEAVE. Just leave. Just leave. What does she have that's worth Nothing. You go buy a vape at the dollar store. Come on. Out. Come on. Do not come back in. Out. Out. Out. I'll talk to you outside. Out. If you come back in, you're going to jail. Try me. If you come back in, you're going to jail. Wait, do you do we need her here? Can Pay the $20. She can go? Take the bag and wait outside. Get your bags. No, no, it's okay. It's okay. It's okay. While her companion eventually settles the bill and is escorted out, the woman still has one last charge to cover. However, she's making it clear she has no intention of paying. It's okay. We're all waiting for you. You have to pay the value on your phone. Right now. You don't have $20. I All my cards All my cards are blocked. How how how does that happen? She's coming here to pay this, so I can wait here. I can wait outside. I can wait however you guys want me to. It's whatever you guys want. Please, have her pull over to the side of the road, either Venmo or Zelle you money, so we can leave. This is ridiculous. It is ridiculous. You don't have $20. I didn't bring my wallet. I didn't bring anything. Do you have Apple Pay? She's coming to pay. You're about to pull the fire alarm, too. Be careful. She's coming to pay everything and it's okay. The tab is paid. What? He sat right next to you and paid it. I don't care. Tell him that he can pay. This is ridiculous. This is a high-end restaurant. You guys had a $500 tab and you came here with no wallet. I wish I would have known who I came here with. That's your ex, so you didn't know who you came with. Girl. Relax. Relax. Either you pay the $20 or Blonde's actually not blonde. It just died. I know. You should be able to see that, though. My roots are pretty bad. My roots are just as yours. Yeah. Like relax. No, I'm not going to relax. I'm going to pay Then pay. Then pay. I know and I have somebody coming to pay and so I can go. They they were 5 minutes away, now they're 15 minutes away. 15 minutes away. Is 15 a lot? Uh yeah. 15 is not a lot. It's doable. It's better than an hour, I'll be honest. As patience runs thin on both sides, the suspect crosses a line and goes after the officer, escalating the incident into something far more serious. I don't I don't know. It sounds like you're alone. No, actually I'm engaged and I I pay a $500 tab if I have one. I'm trying to get here and pay everything and you have no idea what Shut the up. JUST SHUT UP. JUST SHUT UP. Just tell your homegirl that she's I've been here trying to pay my tab and I didn't know my tab was paid and I want to pay it. So, who Who the is that? I HAD NO IDEA MY TAB WAS PAID AND I'M STILL TRYING to pay it. Yeah, all right. Get it. Work My brother's been a cop for 40 years. >> Congratulations. 40 years. I know. After settling the bill, the suspect is free to walk out. But instead of leaving, she makes a move that sends the entire encounter spiraling out of control. I'm over it. I'm over the cops at this point. What did I DO WRONG? OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. I GAVE IT TO YOU. SHE JUST DROVE AWAY WITH MY HAND IN THE DOOR. I gave IT TO YOU. GET ON THE GROUND. I PULLED MY HANDS OUT. ARIANA, CALL THE COPS. Call the cops. >> [laughter] >> Now you're going to jail. You could have left your car and got a ride home. I didn't know I wasn't able to take my car. >> you that? I had my You DROPPED HER I HAD MY KEYS. ARIANA, please take a video. I had my keys. You want to get up? Can I pull your pants down? Oh. Oh. Please pull my skirt down. >> I did. Are you ready to get up? I don't know. >> I'm going to roll you to your right. Bend your legs in. Other leg? Like this? No. Roll it the other way. Which way? You let me know when you want to cooperate. I am cooperating. >> knees are going to go to your chest, all right? So we can get you up. There you go. There you go. And then roll Roll over your knees. All right, roll over your knees. On three. One, two, three. Ready? There you go. And let's stand up. One, two, three. I'll help you up. You want to help? Your glasses are behind you. Don't step on them. Come on. Bend your legs. Oh. There you go. The cuffs go on, but her behavior doesn't change. Her snide remarks and stubborn behavior continue right up until the final moments. You guys know this is wrong. But that's okay. I forgive you and I pray God for the both of I didn't know. No, I didn't even I didn't hear you. She grabbed the door and you ran and you just kept driving while she was on the I How did I have the keys? How did I have the keys? How'd you have the keys? How? They gave me the keys. Yeah, but they played you. It's your car, not because you're supposed to drive. You've been drinking. What the Scott. You're kidding me? Are you kidding? It's okay. Do whatever you have to do. And just Don't do it in front of my kid. I would have never gotten in the car and sped off unless I felt like it was okay. So, do whatever you feel like you need to do and my lawyer will also do what he feels like he needs to do and I will also make sure that all of you just have to do what you needed to do and it's okay. It's okay. Where do you want me to put your glasses? Where do I put them? >> Um like I don't know. On your eyes? Yes, on my eyes. How does I'll Wait. Okay. Come I have not been read my rights nor told why I'm being arrested and the commissioner of Homestead is on its way and I have been unlawfully arrested. So, let's get it together. In the end, the woman was charged with two counts of resisting arrest and one count of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. Number three, trying to cash a seven-figure check becomes the fastest police call of the day. On August 8th, 2025, officers responded to a bank after receiving reports of a possible identity theft in progress. What follows is their effort to untangle the scam. All right, so we tell her updated and then I have a check that was just presented, but I guess this kind of runs deeper. Usually it's just like someone running into a scam, but I guess this guy's actually like stolen the identity of another individual. Um my loss prevention manager wanted me to call her while you guys are here. So, let me call her real quick. Do you have any information on this guy? She's going to have everything for you. Okay. I guess she does know the picture ID. I guess they use facial recognition or something to track him down, but I'll let her kind of get into all that. I don't I know much more than that. When he presented this last night, I was like, "Yeah, we're holding that and that's probably fake." And he just opened his account 6 days ago and that was $20 in the red by a dollar when he deposited this million dollar check. Were you here when he came in? Yeah, last night. Was he wearing anything covering his face? Um he was wearing a hat and sunglasses that we have. He removed the sunglasses obviously. Yes. Were you able to um provide him with the image of the check? Um they have I thought I was giving them the actual check. Did you give him the check? Okay. Yes, so they have the check and they have a collaborative paper. Perfect. Um do you have any questions for me to this situation? They were asking me if we have any information on this individual who walked in. So, I'm just going to move my phone over to the deputy here. Yeah. All right, so this is Tiffany. I'm Deputy Deputy Klosterman. Hi. Um so, we did run um facial recognition on this individual. We were able to confirm his identity. Okay. Um so, I can send that over to Trent for your record. That's perfect. Looks like he's down in Miami. Um once again, I was trying to find him earlier. Um With the phone call wrapped up, the officers turned their attention to the staff on site hoping for first-hand details that could move the case forward. Is this your guys' first run-in with him? Yes, sir. First run-in with him. Never seen the guy before. He just thought that he was going to come in and he established this business, I believe, on 6/18 of 2025. It was registered on Sunday at that time. Um and then he just established the business account here. I'm not even sure if this is his a real business. Not even I guarantee you this is not a real but not a valid check. Um we're not able to confirm it or deny [clears throat] it either way, but we definitely know for sure that this is identity theft. Okay. Um so, you said 6/18/25 he opened an account? Uh he opened the account here on Now, that was when he uh registered the business on Sunday. He established [clears throat] the account here on I'm going to get that date. August 1st, 2025. Okay. In Haines City, Florida. In Haines City. So, he opens the account with His driver's license is Excuse me. Is Miami and then uh His driver's license is Washington. >> [clears throat] >> Oh, jeez. Okay. Yeah, [laughter] so if you please give you an image of that driver's license that we have on file. Yeah, so that's a fraudulent 496, okay. Oh, I see. I see. Okay, so Mark Anthony Taylor is this fraudulent ID. No, Mark Anthony Taylor is the actual Okay. I just want to make sure my notes are Yeah, Greg Sullivan Cooper is the identity theft name that he's used to establish the account. Okay. And so, Greg Cooper's address is this Miami Beach address. Correct. Well, no. Greg Cooper's is address. Okay. The Miami address is of the actual individual. Okay. I just I got a bunch of notes. I just want to make sure I keep them straight. Yeah, this guy is giving us the runaround. I'm just going to grab the copy of the Bank staff explained that the suspect created a business called Cooper Legacy Builders and registered it in June. Then, on August 1st, he used a Washington state ID under the name Greg S. Cooper to open an account despite his real information tracing back to Miami. Loss prevention confirms Greg S. Cooper is a real person and the Miami address belongs to the actual man. The suspect has been using both to move large checks. For deputies, the picture is now clear. This is a planned identity scam. Awesome. Yeah, that seems like all the information that I need. Um I can give you my direct line so you can call me if you have any additional questions. Yes, please. Thanks, Tiffany. And if you don't get anything else. Thank you. The trail went cold that day, but just a week later, the suspect showed up at the bank again. By the time officers arrived, he was already gone heading south of the location. This time, the officers were ready to pursue. Out here. Out here. Now. Outside. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. On the ground. On the ground I'll pop you. I'm going to light you up if you don't tell me You move, I'm going to light you up. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. I told you why. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Now. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground or you're going to get lit up. You hear me? Minute you move, you're getting popped. You move and you're getting popped. Go to that door. Get on the ground. The bank. You know what I'm talking about. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. I'm telling you to get on the ground. That's what I'm telling you and you're not doing it. You're getting on the ground or I'm going to pop you. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. The second you move, you're getting popped. Do you understand that? Sir, move out the way. I just told you what's going on. The bank. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. I don't care. Get on the ground. I don't care that you're scared. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Officers have given the man more than enough time to talk. Now it's time to step in and take control of the situation. Sir, I don't want to change your stance. You know the side? Listen, I'm going to roll you on your side. I want you to tuck your legs so we can sit you up. You ready? We're going to just sit you up too. So, grab the side. You ready? You want to use your leg when you push it up. One, two, three, up. No no no no. All right, man. I'm going to read you rights, okay? So, just listen. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have them present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand those rights? Yes. Okay, so what's going on here? Can I ask what am I being charged for? Right now you you resisted us cuz we detained you. By now, it's clear that he's choosing every word carefully, especially when asked about what happened at the bank. Officers know this won't be a straightforward conversation. Based off of what was going on at the bank? I didn't resist anything. I didn't resist anybody. As far as the sergeant was giving you commands to stop and you didn't listen. I didn't I didn't understand why it was even being I wouldn't even understand why it was even being you know, pursued. So, so tell me what happened with the check. Um I'm not sure, sir. I'm just a normal guy, like I said. Normal guy. I don't know what may or may not be the case with anything. So, I have no idea what's going on. You're telling me you don't you never tried to deposit a check or anything a while back under the name Greg Cooper. Is that your Is that your actual name, Greg Cooper? Um like I said, sir, I have no idea what's going on. I was walking in the woods and being Right now you're you're being detained for resisting. We're trying to figure out what's going on, okay? I just do me a favor, swing and you're not under arrest at this time. We'll let you know what what the charges are, okay? Hello. Mark? My name's Jason. I'm Deputy Kluesner, Marion County Sheriff's Office. So, I'm the one who originally took the report at MidFlorida Bank when you came up here uh beginning of August. Uh you have that business account, Cooper Legacy Builders. Um you had that $1 million check. And so, I'm I'm I'm the one who went to the bank. I ID'd you. We saw you on camera. The bank ID'd you. That Washington driver's license that you have and everything. So, the reason that I'm talking to you right now is is I just want I just want to know what the Why why were you doing that? Like Do you need the money? Are you in trouble in any way? I mean, a million dollars is a lot of money. I'm sorry? >> [clears throat] >> You know, I can't really say much. Can't say too much? I mean, do you do you owe people money? A million dollar fake check. It sounds outrageous, and even the officers can't believe someone thought they could pull it off. I just I Personally, I've never seen a check that big. So, I just I just want to know what you're going You're swinging for the fences first time. Just want to make sure you're not in any trouble or you don't caught up with the wrong people. I get You got to speak up a little. Uh I just I I don't I don't I'm not sure what to Yeah. You can just talk to me. Just just tell me tell me why you came up here with uh with a million dollar check and try to deposit it and I mean, there's there's got to be a reason for it. I I understand being in trouble financially, right? I I do, believe it or not. I've I've had my fair share of ups and downs and I've needed money in certain situations. So, I just want to make sure that everything, you know, wherever you're from is is okay. There's not going to be people looking for you. You're not Hope. You hope not. What about Greg Cooper? What's that name to you? You're not sure? How you got that name or anything like that? What Let me start by asking you this. Have you been up this way before? Are you from this area? You're from Florida. Okay. Uh you live down in Miami or the Miami area? Uh no. No? Okay. So, what brought you up this way? Family, friends? A mixture? Who's up here? They married? No? Okay. Do you Do you live at home alone? Or do you have roommates or anything? Just here and there? Yeah. Like Like I said, man, I I just What I don't want to see happen is some bad people get get wind of what happened. And now you got a target on your back, right? So, I That's why I'm trying to get you to explain to me what What was the motivation? The officers are treading lightly, offering to hear him out and understand his perspective. Still, the man chooses silence. Well, we don't want to make a bad situation worse. Was there Was there a reason you chose a million dollars? The reason that piques my curiosity, man, is is I I've dealt with this a lot, right? People are doing $500 checks, $1,000 checks, and when I got the call for your case, like you she's swinging for the fences. This isn't It's It's It's out of the ordinary, which kind of raised a red flag, which is why I wanted to talk to you, right? You're not You're not trying to do $100 here, you know, pay off a $1,000 loan shark or something, right? A million dollars is That's huge. He's being a little greedy with the million or what? What that? I'm not sure, honestly. Just made made a bad decision today? Or the other day? Huh? All right. That's fine. People make, you know, people make mistakes. I'm not saying, you know, you're not a You're not a bad guy. You know what I mean? I can't even see your eyes. You got got your shades on, but you don't You don't seem like a bad dude. It just seems like you made a bad decision and you you know kind of got a lot of uh little things stacked up here. So, like the fake IDs and the everything else and So, I mean, it is what it is, man. Can we Can we do anything for you in the meantime? Like lower the AC a little bit? Um yeah, for sure. And then I guess just So, what he So, what they told me or what they said to me as far as that I'm being I'm being arrested and being detained. With enough evidence in hand, the officers explain what comes next. And it's clear the situation is far from over. All right. Right now you are under arrest. Okay? Um so So, you are under arrest right now, okay? Um What um Listen, you you've been nothing but cool with us. Like you you haven't I I don't know what happened before we got here. You've You've been You've You've been, you know, you haven't been disrespectful or anything like that. Can we Did you take a car up here so it doesn't get towed? Can we do you a favor? Maybe someone come get it. Um I I I don't I don't know. I don't I don't think I necessarily need it. Okay. Well, if it's left at one of these businesses over here, they're going to tow it. If it goes to an impound lot, every day that it's there, they're going to be charging, and then eventually that's going to come back to you. So, it's going to be thousands of dollars if I mean, if if you can't get a hold of them for a couple of days. So, we are we are trying to do you a solid with your car. Which Which car is yours? How did you How did you get up here then? All right. Well, we're we're going to close the door here. I'm going to lower the AC. Hey, thanks for talking to me, man. I do have a other question from what you said. Me? Yeah. Yeah, but I'm being arrested on what? Yeah. Can you give me more information? Uh yeah, so it's going to be a I think it's going to be a couple of different fraud fraud type charges. Um obviously, uttering the forged the forged instrument. The the fake check at the bank. You have uh You're in possession of a a false identification that has your ID your picture on it. Um I'm I'm not not too sure about the other ones, but I know those for sure. And when you said other ones, what do you mean? Other other charges. What other charges? Uh that deputy right there that was talking to you, you're good. That deputy that was talking to you, he's the one that came out here initially and took that report. So, he would know all the charges and we're going to We could tell you them before we get you over to the jail. Okay? Yeah, yeah, we'll get you that. And we'll and we'll they'll be able to tell you if it's if there's a bond and all that. All right. Later on, investigators discover that the man had attempted similar scams at two other locations. As a result, he was hit with multiple charges, including two counts of uttering a false instrument, a scheme to defraud over $50,000, and several ID-related offenses. Number two. He pulled the scam before and thought it would work again. It didn't. On April 11th, 2024, officers were called to a local Walmart after staff reported someone was running a refund scam using old receipts found in the parking lot to return items fraudulently. This is what officers found when they got there. What's up, man? I'm doing. Yep. I already got the case number for you. Um I'm just getting the the I tried doing it without just the the root copy of the original receipt, but it's making me do a training receipt. So, I'm having her retype it as training receipt. I have the video already set and everything there for you guys. I'm just waiting for her to do it. Real quick, what exactly Run me through what what they've done. Sure. He basically found a receipt in the in the parking lot. Cuz I actually see You actually see him in the video turn around, grab something, then come back in, shop the receipt, Oh, okay. refund and return refund. A fraud. Oh, all right. I got you. So, they they found the receipt, grabbed the matching items in the store, and then tried to return them and saying it was theirs. Exactly. And then he made kind of a stink, and and the manager's like, "Okay. Okay." And then we we basically said, "Just give him his receipt back. Give him back." He walked out with the items. And I'm like, "Crap." I kind of had a feeling that it was what was going on cuz he smelled smelled homeless. He smelled really bad. And he you know, it's just It was just a rubbing wrong way. He He came in and it was a beautiful day yesterday. He came in like this with a hat and everything like this. I mean, you'll see the video. It's He He did a good job of covering his identity. Uh but I tried to get the best pictures I could of him. So, I and I have him in multiple places, which Uh but did he get the cash and the items or just the items? Just items. Just items, which it significant. It was like 100 What was it again? 160 or 170 or something like that? It was like 160 without tax. >> Okay. Uh so he So he did try to get the refund though. Yes, he did try and Everything bothered me. It bothered me so much that I'm making the report today cuz I had to get all my stuff all my ducks in a row. I don't know how you guys are able to do that, man. That's incredible. Yeah, the videos I I I got I've gotten a lot better than I was at first. I was like I didn't I don't know if you did either, but honestly it's just trying to see him following on the camera to figure out what he grabbed exactly and stuff like that. That's That's That takes some time. Security gives the officer a quick rundown of the situation, pointing out the fake receipt the suspect tried to use. Together, they head to the surveillance room to verify what really happened. It was going to nuts, but I was very happy that the Cassie, one more? Oh, awesome. Thank you so much. All right, here is the change. You can go. I'm sorry. I'm I'm done. I'm done. No, you're all good. Oh, you're just going to do the the for me. Thank you so much. And one more item. I put these codes in the website to pull up the exact item. It might. With with those codes, if he if he puts it on the the website, would it pull up the items if he put those uh the UPC codes? >> Cuz these are kind of kind of vague. Some of these are very very vague descriptions. I know. They're the I'm not sure. Yeah, I knew Yeah, I knew that was on there. Yeah, we're not really sure. That's a Hot Wheels a that's a Hot Wheels neon set and I knew for sure that's one of these he stole, but it's not labeled Hot Wheels. I'm sorry. Neon set. And That's the main one. We can walk through this quick. Yeah. No. Star Wars double. No. I can probably give you some words something that kind of A lot of them were little cars. Like Crest 3D White Strips I can get big two-pack I'm assuming. Scissors, Kiss Sharables I'm assuming. Um HW basic car I have no idea. The neon set is for sure a match box. Hot Wheels? Hot Wheels. So that's that's why I was like I was trying to look around looking for those names. I was like Hot Wheels Hot Wheels I'm like nothing's coming up. I know. I I thought Jewel was bad, but Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what you guys did, but I almost want to talk to them and be like, come on, at least do something. >> You got to something. This world does not help me. Yeah, exactly. I didn't With the suspect caught red-handed, the officer and store security head to the surveillance room to examine the evidence frame by frame. This is this. Here is all the video of everything that's going on in there. Um do you want me to put the case number on top of that so I know. It's fine. I I was just going to write that evidence anyway. Okay, this is the person here. This is the really Literally the one of the best pictures I got of him. >> Okay. Uh he I mean it was a beautiful day. That's how he's dressed, you know. And the vehicle I do have I just to show you I don't know if this helps cuz you seem to be on top of things and you do things even on your day on your day on your second job. Uh so this is the time that he actually came on site there and I did add that on to the second picture where the vehicle is. Arriving parking lot 18:37:20. That's right there. That's his vehicle right there. >> Okay. park and this is him leaving. And so just kind of like maybe you could see the similar vehicle around those two times. >> Yeah, it's it's That's kind of it looks like maybe a van or >> Like a van like like almost like a almost like a sprint van or something. I'm not sure. And like here's his entrance just in case you wanted to see. Um but give you an idea this is I mean really Mhm. This is like That's the best you got, yeah. Yeah, you know. And this is the best camera pretty much for uh for especially when they come in. When he leaves, I mean I could have got a better uh picture of him, but >> of blurry. It's terrible. So do you guys want him charged if I can find him or >> Oh, definitely. Definitely trespass. Yes, please. >> Okay. And we're at 160, yeah, so I see actually got to be charged. I can't write any ordinance. Yeah. Okay. Go ahead. All right. I appreciate it. All right, thank you very much, sir. I appreciate it. I know you do go out of your way, so I really appreciate you doing this stuff. Yeah, of course, man. That's That's what I'm here for. I I think it's awesome. >> Enjoy me while you got me cuz it's only for another like couple months. >> What? What? What's going on? I'm going to the north side. Why? Oh, they just need you more there or Yeah, seniority. Like there's a lot of in this precinct cuz there are a lot of things that I don't want to have to deal with all the time. I got you. I got you. All right. Well, you know, if I don't see you, good luck to you and Yeah, for sure. I'll be around, you know, I'll still end up I'm sure I'll end up here at some point, so. Okay. All right, awesome, man. Well, thanks thanks a lot. Thank you. >> Take care. The suspect managed to slip away that day, but several days later officers spotted his van parked outside the same Walmart. This time they were ready and finally made contact with the male subject. What's up, man? You got your ID with you? No, I do not. >> Okay, what's your name? Michael J. Manson. Okay. Do you have any kind of ID with you? No, I do not. Okay, do you know why I'm here talking to you? Um no, I don't. Okay. You remember an incident here last week that you were in you were here in this vehicle? No. Okay, cuz I do. All right. Do me a favor, step out of the car. Good? 10-14. Okay. So you weren't here last week? >> No. Okay. You drive this vehicle often? Uh no, I don't. Okay. So it's just a coincidence that we would get a call today about somebody committing a criminal act driving the same vehicle and it's looking like the same guy that came and did this last week. I haven't been >> You have no idea about that? >> No idea. All right. Do me a favor, turn around, put your hands behind your back. Yeah. Phone. The suspect is in custody, secured in the back of the patrol car. Meanwhile, the officer returns to verify his identity with security staff. You're being detained, okay? Okay. So I can talk to security again find out what they want. Uh do you have anything on you right now, any weapons? Just put your feet for me. Just going to pat you down. Looking for lighter. Phone. All right. I'm going to put you in the back of my car in for a few minutes, okay? Pick it two, mark one male detained. Believe that. You were wearing a camera in that Yes. I was I was still looking for the dude. I was like I I couldn't believe I remembered him, but as soon as I All right, thanks. Yeah, so you remembered his face for sure? >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Cuz I even said what I said to him I I was 99% 99.9% sure it was him based on what you showed me and that car was the same car actually did come here the last time. I timed it out, but I couldn't because the video wasn't clear enough I couldn't make a definitive decision on it. I got his ID pulled. I I still got to get his info. Sure, sure. Okay. I don't have any info about him. >> Yeah, you guys, you know. I still Yeah, I'll pull it all up, but Okay, I still have all the info from the last one. He didn't steal today, you know, as far as I saw at least. What do you need from me? What can I give you? >> Did he or I know you So how did he get in the store and you just recognize him walking around or Yeah, I just happened to see him about Uh cuz I'm actually grocery shopping. I'm about to leave. I finished out at 10. So I go I looked at him and I saw him over here in the front and I'm kind of like I wanted to make sure it was him because I know cuz he's all bundled up and everything. I said, "Hey, I remember you." He's like, "Oh, I don't think I know you." I said I said, "Oh, he came in here for a return last time." Like that and he went, "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah." Oh, so he did admit to being here cuz he told me that he wasn't here last week. No, he was It might have been It might have been longer than I can't remember. It was Yeah, it was last week sometime I think. I can't remember the exact day. Or that was the time. I remember the day. The officer and security staff go over how to proceed with the case and once everything's settled, the suspect is informed of what comes next. So it's then you call us and then he walks out? Um I thought he was going to I thought he was going to take off, but you guys out here I was a little nervous so I had the guard. I said, "Hey, get his car information, get his license plate." Cool. So you still want the retail theft and then I'm sending trespass? Oh. All right, easy enough. I'll Is he drunk as a skunk? Is that right? >> [laughter] >> It's hard to tell. And since I didn't see him driving, he's just sitting in the car in the parking lot he could be learning to drive. That's why I'm probably not going to pursue the DUI just based on circumstances right now. I got you. Um I smelled it. I don't know if you guys smelled it. >> I smelled it a little bit, but it's not doesn't smell super bad. >> No. Okay. You here tomorrow? Uh I'm off tomorrow. I'm off tomorrow and Monday. All right. Um but I do have a AP coach. Finally got a coach now. Somebody My boss. >> here tomorrow? Uh I believe so. >> Okay. I'll stop by If there's anybody here after 6:00, I'll stop by drop off the info for you. Um yeah, cool. Awesome. Thank you, man. I appreciate you guys. Of course. All right. Right now you are under arrest. All right. For what? Hold on a second. I'm going to read you your your Miranda warning. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand each of these rights I've explained to you? Yes. Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me? I have no court dates or anything. >> You're under arrest for retail theft. The case concluded with a charge of retail theft filed against the suspect. Number one. Rental scam finally ends. In our final case, officers responded to an Enterprise Car Rental after staff reported a possible fraud in progress. Here's what happened when they confronted the suspect. Stay here. Stay here. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Did you come in that white Ford? We already know you came in that white Ford, right? Okay. Do you have any ID on you? Let me see this ID that's in your hand. All right. Thank you. What's going on? What's your name? Keep it straight with me for 5 seconds here. What's your name? I'm only Okay. Like once a week or so. Well, let's talk about what's going on first, okay? You don't have to. All right. The more cooperative you are, the better it is for everybody. Okay, does that make sense? Do me a favor. Um, where are you coming from right now? From Chicago? Okay. Okay. Um Is this yours? Is this yours? Yeah. What is your What's your name? What's your name? What's your name? Okay. And you're out of the city? Yeah. Okay. Please just let me go. I don't have a warning. Well, we like I said, let's talk first and then we'll go from there, okay? Who are you Who did you come here with? Um, yeah. But I don't know the guy's name. You don't even know the guy's name? No. What do you call him? Uh, Jack. What? Jack. You call him Jack? Yeah. How did you meet Jack? Uh, honestly Okay. Um Okay, come on, son. We'll be I'll be right back. According to the suspect, the other person involved is a complete stranger, but the officer isn't convinced and takes her outside the office to continue questioning. Come on, assistant. We're not We're not talking in front of him, okay? Come on, assistant. Let's hang out right here, okay? So, how did you meet Jack? Uh, it was like a maybe a week ago and he was like, "Hey, you want to make some money?" And you know, I I I was Okay. What are you doing here today? I was coming here. I was trying to get a rental car. You were just trying to get a rental car? Yeah. Okay, for what purpose? Uh, I don't know. I was with um For who? It was for Jack. It was for Jack. How did you get How did you contact Jack? Uh, he ran into me. He ran into you? Yeah, like I'm I'm I'm from like out west, you know. Out west? Yeah. And where are you from? Originally like the northwest suburbs. I've been living out west probably like 10 years. 10 years? Why did Jack need a rental car? I don't know. Like I don't even know. I don't even know. Okay. Um Who is he? Where did you get this? He gave it to me. He gave it to you? Yeah. Need the events leading up to this, okay? So, how did Where did you meet Jack? Like where Where did you meet him today? Where did he pick you up? Uh, we were McDonald's out west. Yeah. McDonald's Where? Me and me and my best friend at McDonald's. With With like what city? Uh, it's like Austin area. So, he met you today and then he hands you these two things? Like I I met him I met him two other times. I was uh I met him maybe a little over a week ago. Okay. Like a week and a half ago. And I seen a little fishy, but I mean I'm I'm I'm just trying to make some money, you know what I mean? >> you were going to get money? Did he say you were going to get paid to get a rental car? Yeah. Okay, he didn't say why he needed the rental car? No. Trying to dodge responsibility, the suspect points the finger at her partner. But the employee shares a key detail that unravels her entire story. When's the last time you were in trouble with police? Um, I remember about a year ago. >> Um, I was in a car with somebody who had stolen a car. It was a stolen car? Yeah. Where did that happen at? Uh, Chicago. Chicago? Okay. So, you never met You don't even know his first name? >> him by Jack. So So, he she she only knows him by Jack. They met like 2 weeks ago or a week ago. And she just got picked up at that McDonald's in Austin. So, that name booked their reservation like 30 minutes ago. And the person who was actually them called me and said, "Hey, like something just got booked under my name and I didn't book a rental car." Dawn. Dawn. Okay. Yeah. And she said it happened to her yesterday in Virginia. Interesting. Yeah. And then she gave me her phone number, didn't match what was on file. When she came in, I asked her to verify her date of birth, which she knew I'm from there, but the address and um when I asked her her address and phone number, she couldn't She didn't even know what they were herself. And I put her under my fraud fighter, which we have up there, and Lincoln's hat is not in the right spot, so Okay. And I called my risk team and I was like, "What do you want me to do?" They said, "Call the cops." So Perfect. Um I'll just grab your information real quick if you don't mind. Yeah, here's the person. So, this happened to this chick I guess yesterday at at a different Enterprise in Virginia? I'm not sure if it's the same person or not. Uh, but she just said she I don't She didn't say anything about like cops being involved or like actually like a fraud charge going through. She said like she ordered a credit card in the mail and it never arrived, so somehow that credit card got stolen somehow. Um, but she said she had a rental booked in her name yesterday in Virginia and she notices one today, so she called me right away. I don't really know what happened. >> have her phone number for Carol? Can I write this down on a sticky note for you? I'm fresh out of freaking pages. Just write it down. Yep. The car rental employee recounts what he saw when the suspect and her companion first arrived. And with all the evidence now on the table, the officer makes the call to take her into custody. Um, I can try to see. I don't know if you guys got it. I can pull cameras maybe if you need like that license plate number. I don't know anything with that, but I might be able to pull it up. I don't know. So, when we were I didn't even see that there was a driver in there cuz when we pulled up, we were literally pulled in front of that car. I'm like, "Oh, there's nobody in there." And then he ended up driving and taking off, so um I don't think we need cameras for that. He didn't get out of the car, did he? Did no No one else get out of the car. No, she was in the back. She got out of the back seat and then she came in. I was asking her some questions and she went back to the car for a few minutes and then came back inside. But yeah, I never saw anyone else get out of the car, so Okay. So, when she came in, she provided you with that ID. She Did she use that credit card? Did she try to use the credit card? Didn't even try. I already knew, so like I just I didn't even >> it's a pretty bad fake ID to be honest with you, so All right, man. Cool. I'll call you if I need anything else. I appreciate you guys. Thank you. I I mean Hang on. Got 17 different phone calls happening right now. Say that again. I don't know, probably. I don't know. I don't know. Anything involving ID theft and everything else is and credit card theft, whatever you want to call it, is a felony in Illinois, right? So, I mean, we have to call the state's attorney's office. We tell the state's attorney what we have and then ultimately they're going to be the ones that are going to charge you. You have nothing in your pockets? I have money in my bra, that's it. Okay, money in your bra? >> Can you help me? Yeah, I can help you out. How much money's in your bra? A hundred and some change. A hundred and some change. There's no in your bra, there's no in your pants, there's nothing. Okay. Unfortunately, I got Unfortunately. In the end, the woman was charged with ID fraud and credit card fraud. What's your verdict? Let me know in the comments and I'll see you in the next video. As always, stay safe out there, folks.