A 22-year-old Miami man is accused of bilking two Glendale women out of $33,350 through calls claiming their bank accounts had been compromised. The alleged scheme used cash handoffs, hired drivers and a fake sense of financial emergency before police say it unraveled in Phoenix.
Andre Hart was arrested Thursday after Glendale detectives allegedly watched him receive a package from a gray Toyota Prius in a Phoenix restaurant parking lot, according to ABC15 Arizona. Investigators reportedly found $25,000 in cash on him, seized another $9,000 delivered moments later by an Uber driver and later found $53,000 more in his motel room. Police also located Hart's passport and clothing that allegedly matched surveillance footage.
The first victim was contacted on July 8 by someone posing as a Chase Bank representative who claimed fraud had appeared on her account. She withdrew $14,850 and handed it to a man in a black Hyundai, while a second woman received a similar call on July 13, withdrew $18,500 and gave the money to a man driving a maroon minivan.
The minivan driver was reportedly a Lyft driver who had been unknowingly hired to collect and deliver the cash. Investigators say the package was taken to a McDonald's parking lot in Phoenix, where it was handed to a heavy-set man in his 20s.
Surveillance from the restaurant and a neighboring motel helped investigators identify Hart, while his passport and Florida driver's license photos were used to compare him with the footage. Cellphone records also allegedly placed him in Phoenix on both dates, and Glendale police contacted the Pima County Sheriff's Office about a similar case involving the same method.
Judge Keeps Suspect In Arizona On $100,000 Bond
Hart appeared in Maricopa County court, where a judge set a $100,000 cash bond and ordered him not to leave Arizona while the felony case is pending, ABC15 Arizona reported. Hart asked whether he could return to Florida or wear an ankle monitor, but the judge declined to change the conditions. The court cited flight-risk concerns, possible access to illegitimate funds and a potential danger to the community.
Hart is facing allegations of fraud and theft, and the charges have not been proven in court. The cash seizures and bond ruling do not establish guilt, and Hart remains presumed innocent unless convicted.
Valley Police Have Been Warning About Bank Impersonators
The alleged cash-collection tactic comes after another Valley case in which police said callers posing as bank fraud investigators persuaded a Gilbert resident to surrender a debit card before nearly $24,000 was withdrawn. In that case, a similar Valley scam prompted police to warn that legitimate banks do not send couriers to collect cards, PINs or cash.
The broader trend is not limited to Arizona. The Federal Trade Commission said people reported losing $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, with fake bank impersonators among the costliest versions of the fraud.
What To Do If A Caller Claims Your Account Is In Trouble
The Arizona Attorney General's Office advises consumers to be wary of unsolicited calls demanding immediate action, personal information or money. Residents should hang up and contact their bank through the number on a statement or the institution's official website, rather than using a number supplied by the caller. Anyone who has handed over cash or account information should contact the bank and local police as soon as possible.
