Steven Mercado ARRESTED for being money mule for "tech suppoat" CHODS

OfclyGoodenough
Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:08:56 +0000

On March 6, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (both from Florida), arrested 20-year-old Orlando resident Steven Mercado for serving as a money mule for a Microsoft technical support scam operation, where

The scammers will generate fake virus popups, urging their victims (in this case an elderly woman) to call their designated “suppoat” line.

The bhenchods who answer the call will falsely claim the victims’ computer and bank account were compromised.

The victim will be asked to withdraw $60,000 from their bank account and hand it off to a designated courier, or money mule, in the parking lot of a local grocery store.

When the money is collected, the scammers will then falsely claim another breach had occurred, demanding the victim send another $60,000 to the mule.

Mercado was arrested during a traffic stop on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. He was later transported to the Orange County Jail, where he was booked on additional charges of possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony and possessing over 20 grams of marijuana.

Though he was later released on a $23,500 bond, Mercado has also been charged with obtaining property by false pretenses after stealing $37,463.15 from a second victim from Durham, North Carolina.

https://www.observerlocalnews.com/news/2026/mar/12/suspect-arrested-after-120k-scam-targeting-elderly-palm-coast-woman/

https://www.flaglercountybuzz.com/2026/03/12/fugitive-who-scammed-elderly-palm-coast-woman-out-of-120000-arrested-sheriff-slams-low-bond/

閱讀整個話題