A Miami-Dade couple is accused of turning neighborly trust into a high-dollar hustle, with deputies saying a years-long fraud left victims more than $200,000 out of pocket. Investigators identified the pair as 64-year-old Maria Blasco Diaz and her 65-year-old husband, Antonio Diaz, and say the scheme targeted friends and neighbors with supposedly discounted watch deals and bargain cruise packages. The arrests followed complaints from longtime acquaintances who said they never received the luxury goods or travel documents they had already paid for.
According to WPLG Local 10, victims paid nearly $139,000 in deposits for multiple watches and more than $44,000 for travel-related expenses, for a total investigators say came to $200,259.85. Deputies said some of the victims were longtime friends of the couple and that a cruise booking was scheduled for July 2023 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas. The report states that partial repayment checks issued by Maria Blasco Diaz later bounced and that bank records show the account used to write the checks was opened with only a minimal deposit.
How deputies say the scheme worked
Investigators say Maria Blasco Diaz promoted a 50% "friends and family" discount on Rolex watches, allegedly relying on her husband’s connection at a jewelry store to make the deal sound legit. As promised delivery dates crept closer, she reportedly offered a rotating list of excuses, including that items were at the wrong store or being held for "quality control," all while collecting additional money. The arrest report states that Maria confessed to the crimes and claimed her husband was not involved, although deputies arrested him as well.
Charges, bond and court orders
Jail records show both suspects face counts that include organized fraud of $50,000 or more, first-degree grand theft of over $100,000, uttering forged instruments, issuing a worthless check and theft from an elderly victim. A judge set bond at $35,000 apiece, per WPLG Local 10. The pair were ordered to have no contact with any of the victims and were placed on a Nebbia hold, which requires proof that the money or collateral used to pay a bail bond comes from a legitimate source. Prosecutors will review the arrest report, the bounced checks and the bank records as the case moves through the county court system.
What victims should know
Anyone who believes they may have been scammed by the couple is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Authorities advise residents to be skeptical of unusually deep "friends and family" discounts, insist on written receipts and confirm that sellers are operating from verifiable businesses before handing over large sums. Officials also urge people to keep copies of payment records, messages and any receipts, since those documents often help detectives piece together financial fraud cases.
The investigation dates back to 2022, underscoring how what starts as a few complaints can turn into a lengthy probe. Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office handled the case and the couple appeared in bond court on Wednesday. More details are expected as the case proceeds through the court system.
