Naples police recover $10,000 stolen from elderly resident in fraud scheme

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)— Naples police recovered $10,000 stolen from an elderly resident in a fraud scheme after intercepting a package before it reached its destination in California.

According to a press release, scammers impersonating government agency representatives contacted the victim on Aug. 17, 2026. Using fear, urgency and deception, the scammers convinced the victim to withdraw $10,000 in cash, place the money inside a package and ship it overnight to an address in Irvine, California.

After the fraud was reported to the Naples Police Department, members of the department's Cyber Crimes Unit immediately began working to locate and intercept the shipment before it could be delivered. Investigators coordinated with UPS and law enforcement agencies in California in an effort to stop the package while it was still in transit.

On Aug. 18, 2026, law enforcement successfully intercepted the package before it reached its intended destination. Investigators recovered the full $10,000, and arrangements are being made to return the money to the victim.

The investigation into the individuals responsible for the fraud remains ongoing.

"Our elderly residents are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated criminals who use fear and urgency to exploit their trust and steal their hard-earned savings," Naples Police Chief Ciro Dominguez said.

"Protecting our senior community from these crimes is one of the reasons we established our Cyber Crimes Unit. This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when our investigators act quickly and work collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies and private-sector partners," Dominguez said.

The Naples Police Department reminds residents that legitimate government agencies will never instruct you to withdraw and ship cash or demand payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, gold or cash delivered via a courier.