Palm Beach County deputies say a 73-year-old Boynton Beach resident was tricked into handing over $44,400 after a scammer used remote computer access, faked a refund, and provided a pickup code for a courier. Jefferson Paul, 31, was arrested June 1 on allegations including organized scheme to defraud and grand theft involving an older victim. Investigators tied surveillance and rental records for a silver Nissan Rogue to the suspect; authorities urge victims to disconnect, change passwords, contact banks, and report to law enforcement, the FTC and the FBI IC3.
Fake Refund, Remote Access and Pickup Code: How a 73-Year-Old Lost $44,400 to a Courier Scam
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Palm Beach County deputies say a 73-year-old woman in Boynton Beach was duped into handing over $44,400 in cash after a caller used remote computer access, fabricated a refund, and supplied a pickup code to make an in-person cash handoff appear legitimate.
What Happened
Deputies arrested 31-year-old Jefferson Paul of Port St. Lucie on June 1 on allegations of an organized scheme to defraud and grand theft involving a person over 65, according to a CBS12 report. The charges are allegations; no conviction was reported in sources reviewed.
Investigators say the incident began in early October 2025, when the victim spotted an unfamiliar $450 charge and—believing it was tied to antivirus software—called a customer‑support number she found online. The person on the line persuaded her to grant remote access to her computer.
During the remote session the woman’s screen reportedly went black. Deputies say the caller manipulated the display so the account appeared to show a $45,000 refund (instead of $450), then pressured her to return the excess funds immediately.
Cash Withdrawals and Courier Pickups
On Oct. 2 the woman withdrew $30,000 in cash from a Chase branch in Delray Beach. Bank staff questioned the large withdrawal and warned it might be fraudulent; she told them the money was for her daughter. That same day she met a man near the gated community entrance and handed over the cash after giving him a pickup code supplied by the caller.
The caller reportedly remained on the line while the woman returned the next day to withdraw another $14,400 from a different bank and handed that cash to the same courier at the same location. The money was wrapped in a bag and placed into a vehicle before it drove away.
Investigation And Identification
The victim’s daughter later recognized the pattern as a known scam and contacted authorities. Detectives reviewed surveillance video and spotted a silver Nissan Rogue near the community entrance at the times of the handoffs. Rental records showed the vehicle had been rented during the relevant period and linked to Jefferson Paul, who had possession of the vehicle from late September through early October, overlapping with the transactions. The victim and her husband identified Paul in a photo lineup, deputies said.
Note: Court records or a final case outcome were not included in media reports; the charges remain allegations unless proven in court.
How The Scam Worked (And How To Avoid It)
Federal agencies warn that tech‑support and courier scams often combine the following tactics: convincing victims to give remote access, using spoofed or manipulated refund screens, applying urgent pressure to return money, keeping victims on the phone during bank withdrawals, and coordinating in-person courier pickups with a passcode to make the handoff seem official.
If you or someone you know grants remote access to an unknown caller, authorities recommend you immediately disconnect that session, change passwords from a separate device, contact your bank directly, and report the incident to local law enforcement, the FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Key Warning Signs: Unsolicited support calls, remote access requests, pressure to return an alleged refund quickly, a caller staying on the line while you withdraw cash, and an arranged in-person pickup using a code.
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