Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit has charged Weikai Zhang, a member of a cyberfraud ring accused of stealing more than $50,000 from Floridians. Zhang is facing multiple felony charges for a cyber scheme that involved false online pop-up alerts and impersonating bank employees.
“This cyber fraudster exploited Floridians, including a senior, and stole tens of thousands of dollars,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This will not be allowed to stand in Florida. Thanks to the hard work of our Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit, our Statewide Prosecutors will be able to hold this cybercriminal accountable.”
The investigation started following a complaint from an Orange County citizen who was scammed out of $23,000 via a false pop-up alert and bank employee imposters. Zhang allegedly convinced the victim that his bank account was compromised and tried to have the victim send funds to a so-called safe account using three different cryptocurrency kiosks, also known as Bitcoin ATMs. When this failed, Zhang personally collected $23,000 in cash under the pretense of being a bank employee, a transaction captured on surveillance video.
The investigation also revealed that Zhang conducted a similar scheme against a senior woman. He traveled from Central Florida to Martin County to collect $30,000 cash from this victim.
Zhang faces one count of organized scheme to defraud $50,000 or more, a first-degree felony; one count of exploitation of a person 65 years or older $10,000 or more but less than $50,000, a second-degree felony; and one count of conspiracy to commit grand theft over $20,000 but less than $100,000, a third-degree felony.
Zhang was arrested in New York and is currently in custody in Martin County. The investigation was a joint effort by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit.
