ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA )— A St. Petersburg man was arrested after posing as a Suncoast Credit Union employee and stealing more than $20,000 from two customers, the St. Petersburg Police Department announced.

Around July 16, 2025, two Suncoast Credit Union customers fell victim to a scam where Akbar Hasssan Vann, 37, contacted them by phone, claiming to be from the fraud department.

According to an arrest report, the victims were advised that their accounts had been compromised and must prove their online banking information to correct the fraud.

After providing their information, $21,601 was transferred out of their accounts into the Suncoast Credit Union account of Vann between July 16 and July 21.

The arrest report said Vann then depleted the funds through cash withdrawals and point-of-sale transactions from his account in St. Pete and Pinellas Park.

“This is evidenced by bank records, Suncoast Credit Union fraud reports, and video surveillance. Suncoast Credit Union sustained a fraud exposure loss of $21,601.00,” the arrest report said.

Vann was arrested and charged with a scheme to defraud in an amount between $20,000 and $50,000.

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