Apopka police say a 76-year-old resident narrowly avoided losing another $19,700 after officers staged a sting and grabbed a suspected scam courier in a parking lot on East Semoran Boulevard. The case started quietly enough, with the victim spotting a suspicious $200 PayPal charge, then spiraled when callers claimed they had accidentally dropped a $20,000 deposit into the victim’s account and needed the money back in cash.
According to WFTV, officers arrested Timothy Swanigan on Thursday. Detectives allege he had already walked away with $19,700 from the 76-year-old and then showed up to collect a second $19,700. Swanigan is charged with fraud, swindling over $300 from a person 65 or older, use of a device to facilitate a felony, and grand theft of $10,000 to $50,000 from someone 65 or older.
How the Scheme Worked
Investigators say the caller pretended to be a computer repair representative, convincing the victim to let him install software on the home computer. After that, the caller claimed a large deposit had been made in error and pressured the victim to pull out cash to supposedly correct the mistake.
The FTC warns that tech support and imposter scams often revolve around fake “help” with devices, surprise charges, or bogus refunds. Scammers typically push people to grant remote access to their computer or rush them into moving money. The FBI notes that older Americans continue to report substantial financial losses to these kinds of schemes.
Sting Operation and Arrest
Detectives say Swanigan told investigators he was paid $400 for his role in the first cash pickup on March 18. He allegedly said he then dropped the rest of the money into a mailbox at an abandoned home on Rio Grande Avenue in Orlando.
When he came back later for a second $19,700 handoff in the parking lot on East Semoran Boulevard, officers were waiting. They intercepted him at the meeting spot and took him into custody, WFTV reports.
Charges and Legal Context
Swanigan faces state charges that carry enhanced penalties when the victim is a senior. Under Florida law, exploitation of an elderly person is defined in Chapter 825, and penalties increase with the amount taken.
State statutes indicate that theft of $10,000 to $20,000 is generally treated as a third-degree felony, while theft of $20,000 to $100,000 is a second degree felony. Chapter 825 adds specific provisions and tougher consequences when victims are 65 or older, as outlined in Florida Statutes §812.014 and Florida Statutes §825.103.
How to Protect Seniors and Where to Report
Consumer officials repeat some simple rules: do not hand over control of your computer to an unknown caller, do not move money just because someone on the phone insists it is necessary, and double-check any surprise deposits with your bank or a trusted family member, the FTC advises.
Victims or family members can reach the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 and file reports with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Florida Attorney General’s fraud hotline at 1-866-966-7226. Those resources are highlighted by the Department of Justice and Florida’s consumer protection office in their public guidance (DOJ, MyFloridaLegal).
