A Florida woman pled guilty Friday to her part in moving $8 million in fraudulent money as part of a large-scale romance scam. Amy Franz is ordered to pay over $600,000 after state investigators say she, along with Patricia Vineyard and a Punta Gorda woman, helped an online scammer through opening bank accounts for shell companies. Sarasota lawyer Bill Robertson tipped state investigators off to the scam after realizing his expected payment for his work on an opioid lawsuit settlement had not arrived.He said he alerted the Florida Office of the Attorney General that he had wanted the check sent to his new office location. After coordinating with the attorney general’s office, he discovered that about $70,000 had been transferred to a bank account not associated with his firm. Records show someone involved in the scheme hacked into his firm’s email domain and instructed the state office to send the money through a wire transfer. “It was on my email address to her saying that we changed her mind and wanted to have the funds wire transferred. I said, ‘that’s not me,'” Robertson said. “After they got involved and investigated this, somebody had hacked or, whatever the proper terminology is, my email account and was monitoring my email communications.” The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators revealed that the scam was orchestrated by a man whom the three Florida women met on an online dating app. Only two of the women, Amy Franz and Patricia Vineyard, have been charged. The investigation found that the women opened bank accounts under fraudulent shell companies and moved more than $8 million overseas for the scammer, who gained access to the funds by hacking into email accounts.John Joyce, a cybersecurity expert from CRS Technology Consultants, explained the vulnerability of email systems. “We all use email every day. Personal lives, business lives. The problem is, the bad guys know that,” Joyce said. “To this day, with all of the cybersecurity tricks of the trade, it is still the number one way to reach someone directly.”Robertson’s email was compromised, allowing the scammer to obtain wire transfer information intended for the attorney general’s office. Robertson said he lost about $57,000. He said he wishes the bank would have looked into the transfer more, as investigators noted the account was not associated by name with his business. “It would be great if I got some more of my money back, but I’m not holding my breath,” Robertson said. “I’m not anticipating that just because I know that, you know, at this point in time, these ladies that they’re prosecuting probably don’t have anything left because I think this guy cleaned them out.”Thirteen companies across North America were scammed out of money, including three in Florida. Amy Franz has taken a plea deal and will serve 10 years of probation. The third woman involved, from Punta Gorda, will not face charges due to her poor physical and mental state, according to prosecutors.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. —
A Florida woman pled guilty Friday to her part in moving $8 million in fraudulent money as part of a large-scale romance scam.
Amy Franz is ordered to pay over $600,000 after state investigators say she, along with Patricia Vineyard and a Punta Gorda woman, helped an online scammer through opening bank accounts for shell companies.
Sarasota lawyer Bill Robertson tipped state investigators off to the scam after realizing his expected payment for his work on an opioid lawsuit settlement had not arrived.
He said he alerted the Florida Office of the Attorney General that he had wanted the check sent to his new office location.
After coordinating with the attorney general’s office, he discovered that about $70,000 had been transferred to a bank account not associated with his firm.
Records show someone involved in the scheme hacked into his firm’s email domain and instructed the state office to send the money through a wire transfer.
“It was on my email address to her saying that we changed her mind and wanted to have the funds wire transferred. I said, ‘that’s not me,'” Robertson said. “After they got involved and investigated this, somebody had hacked or, whatever the proper terminology is, my email account and was monitoring my email communications.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators revealed that the scam was orchestrated by a man whom the three Florida women met on an online dating app. Only two of the women, Amy Franz and Patricia Vineyard, have been charged.
The investigation found that the women opened bank accounts under fraudulent shell companies and moved more than $8 million overseas for the scammer, who gained access to the funds by hacking into email accounts.
John Joyce, a cybersecurity expert from CRS Technology Consultants, explained the vulnerability of email systems. “We all use email every day. Personal lives, business lives. The problem is, the bad guys know that,” Joyce said. “To this day, with all of the cybersecurity tricks of the trade, it is still the number one way to reach someone directly.”
Robertson’s email was compromised, allowing the scammer to obtain wire transfer information intended for the attorney general’s office. Robertson said he lost about $57,000. He said he wishes the bank would have looked into the transfer more, as investigators noted the account was not associated by name with his business.
“It would be great if I got some more of my money back, but I’m not holding my breath,” Robertson said. “I’m not anticipating that just because I know that, you know, at this point in time, these ladies that they’re prosecuting probably don’t have anything left because I think this guy cleaned them out.”
Thirteen companies across North America were scammed out of money, including three in Florida. Amy Franz has taken a plea deal and will serve 10 years of probation. The third woman involved, from Punta Gorda, will not face charges due to her poor physical and mental state, according to prosecutors.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.