A 72-year-old Philadelphia man who thought he was helping his bank and the FBI instead watched $13,000 disappear into an ATM, according to city prosecutors, who now say they have tracked the money to a Florida suspect. Authorities identify the victim as Greg Sclight and say the con started with text messages and phone calls that pretended to be from his bank and, later, from federal agents. The money he withdrew and deposited at an ATM was quickly routed into a Wells Fargo account that investigators later linked to a 41-year-old man from Florida.
In a press release, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said charges were held for court Monday against Patrick Vassor of Pompano Beach, Florida. He faces conspiracy and multiple theft-related counts, with a formal arraignment scheduled for April 24. “Scammers, who are becoming highly sophisticated, routinely target elders because they tend to have more assets,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said, praising Detective Justin Peyton and Assistant District Attorney Alex Blumenthal of the office’s Elder Justice Unit for their work on the case.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, Sclight kept meticulous, real-time notes on the calls and messages he received. Those records turned out to be key evidence for investigators trying to reconstruct how the fraud unfolded. Prosecutors also uncovered other deposits into the same Wells Fargo account that they say look a whole lot like similar scams.
How the scam worked
Prosecutors say the setup started in April 2025, when Sclight got a text about a supposed fraudulent charge on his account. That message was followed by more texts and calls that claimed to be from bank staff and then from the FBI. The caller insisted that Sclight needed to move his money into a new account to help with what he was told was a money laundering investigation.
Under pressure and believing he was cooperating with law enforcement, Sclight withdrew $13,000 and deposited it at an ATM. Investigators later traced that ATM deposit to a Wells Fargo account that the district attorney’s office says belonged to Vassor and was used to receive the stolen funds. Prosecutors say additional transactions tied to that account matched the pattern of other fraud schemes. (Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office)
Bigger picture: why seniors are being targeted
Federal data show this is not a one-off horror story. Imposter-style scams are on the rise nationwide. The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network logged about 2.6 million fraud reports in 2024, with reported losses topping $12.5 billion, and older adults accounted for billions of those losses.
Texts and calls that pretend to be from banks or government agencies, then pressure people to move or withdraw money, are a common tactic, according to federal guidance. See the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 and the Federal Trade Commission guide to imposter scams for more on national trends and prevention tips.
What to do if you or a loved one is targeted
If you get an unexpected call or text that tells you to urgently move money, treat it as a red flag. Hang up, ignore any links, and contact your bank using the number on your card or statement, not any number the caller or texter provides.
Keep screenshots, call logs, and any other records, then report the incident to your local police. You can also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which helps federal investigators track patterns in online and phone-based fraud. In Philadelphia, victims can also reach out to victim-assistance services connected with the district attorney’s office for support.
Legal process
Prosecutors say the case has been held for court and that Vassor’s arraignment was set for April 24. Those are procedural steps in the criminal process, and the charges remain allegations until a judge or jury decides otherwise.
NBC10 Philadelphia reports that court records did not yet list a trial date and that the defendant’s attorney had not immediately provided a statement.
