A Florida man is in hot water following allegations of fraud against an elderly woman, authorities say. Charles Horlesen, 31, of Kissimmee, FL, faced an arrest in Maryland in a case that investigators describe as a tech support scam that bilked $20,000 from a Montgomery County resident.
According to the Montgomery County Department of Police – Financial Crimes Section, last Monday, July 21, Horlesen convinced the unsuspecting victim of an issue with her Norton antivirus software. Affected by what must have seemed like a simple financial hiccup, the elderly female was told she received an excessive refund. She was persuaded to withdraw the substantial sum from her bank account and hand it over to Horlesen, ostensibly to correct the error.
The multi-agency operation, which lasted several days, pinned down Horlesen's location and led to his capture last Wednesday, July 23, reports Montgomery County Police. Horlesen, now charged with various offenses—including theft in the range of $1,500 to under $25,000 and exploiting a vulnerable adult—was released on bond a day following his arrest.
Involving several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI's Baltimore Field Office and the Prince George’s County Police Department, the collaborative detective work peeled back the layers of this purported scheme. Evidence and investigative leads suggest Horlesen might not have acted alone. Now, there’s a search for additional victims who may have fallen prey to similar swindles in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas.
The authorities are urging anyone who had contact with Horlesen or suspects similar foul play to contact the MCPD's Financial Crimes Section at 240-773-6330.
