HARDIN COUNTY — A Florida man is behind bars after investigators say he played a role in an elaborate fraud scheme that tricked a Hardin County resident into handing over sensitive banking information, debit cards and thousands of dollars in cash.
The investigation began on August 4 when Hardin County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported fraud in the Lumberton area.
According to investigators, the victim received a series of convincing phone calls from people posing as representatives of the victim’s bank and later as federal law enforcement agents. The callers claimed suspicious activity had been detected on the victim’s accounts and falsely said bank employees were under investigation.
Believing the calls were legitimate, the victim provided personal banking information, including account passwords and PIN numbers. The scammers then instructed the victim to package several debit cards and hand them over to a person who came directly to the victim’s home.
Deputies immediately launched an investigation into the pickup and movement of the package.
The case took a major turn during the early morning hours of Aug. 5, when officers with the Lumberton Police Department stopped a vehicle. During that traffic stop, officers discovered several of the victim’s debit cards, thousands of dollars in cash and other evidence investigators believe is connected to the fraud scheme.
The investigation led to the arrest of Bradly Louis, 23, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Louis has been charged with Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information and Failure to Identify, with bonds totaling $12,000. Authorities also say he is wanted in Broward County, Florida, on a felony hit-and-run with injury warrant that carries no bond.
Investigators say the case remains active, and additional arrests or charges could follow as they work to identify others involved in what appears to be an organized scam.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to remain vigilant. Officials stressed that legitimate banks and law enforcement agencies will never ask customers to reveal passwords or PIN numbers or send someone to their home to collect debit or credit cards.
Anyone who receives a similar call is urged to hang up immediately and contact their financial institution or local law enforcement agency directly.