Clermont man accused of acting as money mule in fraud scheme targeting victims in DeSoto County

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. —

A Clermont man was arrested on Monday after he was accused of being a money mule in a fraud scheme in DeSoto County.

According to the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Feng Lin, 29, was arrested after the sheriff's office initially received a tip on March 11 from a detective with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office in Texas about scammers targeting people in the Arcadia area.

The information provided to deputies was that the suspects were reportedly trying to scam a couple in DeSoto County out of more than $20,000. The sheriff's office also said it was told the suspects were reportedly on the way to collect the money from the victims.

Deputies said they responded to the residence and found the victims were actively being manipulated by suspects reportedly pretending to be representatives from their bank. In the investigation, it was determined that the victims were scammed out of about $21,700.

During the investigation, detectives said identified the rental vehicle reportedly used, developed a description of the suspect and identified Lin.

Lin's reported role in the scheme was as a courier, also known as a money mule. Deputies said Lin was accused of collecting money from victims for the people reportedly organizing the scheme. But evidence as revealed he was accused of keeping some of the money for himself, according to the sheriff's office.

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