Cape Coral man arrested in connection to 'sophisticated' bank fraud scheme, officers say

A Cape Coral man was arrested on Thursday in connection with what officers call an "intricate" fraudulent scheme targeting bank customers across multiple states.

Back in early July, security specialists at a financial institution alerted law enforcement to coordinated account compromises.

The scheme involved fraudsters impersonating bank representatives and contacting victims to phish one-time passcodes and account verification details. With these stolen credentials, they called the bank's call center to alter customer mailing addresses to Cape Coral locations. They would then order expedited replacement debit cards.

Detectives with the Cape Coral Police Department's Economic Crimes Unit say they were able to connect Santino Parreno Guerra, 31, with fraudulent cash withdrawals and high-value money order purchases.

On Thursday, detectives executed a search warrant at a Guerra's home on Northeast 24th Avenue where evidence connected to this case was found, CCPD says. Guerra was taken into custody.

Guerra faces the following charges:

• Fraudulent/illegal use of personal identification information (victim 60 years of age or older)
• Grand theft
• Resisting an officer without violence

CCPD says the investigation is ongoing.