A Facebook Marketplace sale at a Winter Haven Wawa turned into a counterfeit cash scheme this week, with police now asking the public to help identify the man who allegedly pulled it off. According to investigators, the suspect met a seller at the store on October 16 to buy an iPad tablet, handed over a white envelope, then drove off in a white Tesla before anyone realized the money inside was fake.
The Winter Haven Public Safety Department says the buyer and seller arranged the deal through Facebook Marketplace and agreed to meet at the Wawa located at 1490 3rd St SW. Once there, the suspect obtained the iPad and handed the victim an envelope containing what turned out to be counterfeit $20 bills totaling $500, police say. The suspect then left the area in a white Tesla bearing an unknown tag, according to the department's post.
Police describe the man as a black male wearing a long-sleeved gray dress shirt, black pants, and brown dress shoes. The Winter Haven Police Department is asking anyone with information about his identity to call 863-401-2256.
Why a Wawa Parking Lot Isn't the Safest Spot
The Wawa store sits in a high-traffic location that also hosts Tesla Supercharging stations and operates around the clock, a setup that, per the store's own location listing, could mean nearby security cameras captured useful footage of the encounter. Still, the Winter Haven Police Department maintains camera-monitored safe exchange areas in the parking lot and lobby of its headquarters at 125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW specifically so that residents completing online buy-and-sell transactions have a secure, supervised alternative to commercial lots.
The scam fits a pattern investigators in Polk County have flagged before. In July, Hoodline reported on a case in nearby Jan Phyl Village involving car burglaries; investigators had identified suspects and were still asking for information.
Spotting Fake Bills Before It's Too Late
Sellers can take time to inspect bills before accepting them.
Even so, sellers who accept counterfeit currency may have to absorb the loss.
Legal Stakes if the Suspect Is Identified
If identified, the man could face legal consequences over the alleged counterfeit payment and taking of the iPad.
Online peer-to-peer sales have become a routine part of daily commerce, which makes safe transaction practices important.
How to Report a Tip
Anyone with information about the suspect's identity can call the Winter Haven Police Department at 863-401-2256. Tipsters can also contact Heartland Crime Stoppers.
