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.