Florida Man Arrested After Trying to Scam Laurel Mississippi Family with Fake Medical Emergencies
Authorities in Miami have arrested a 42-year-old man accused of deceiving a family in Laurel, Mississippi, out of thousands of dollars through a series of fabricated medical emergencies. According to the Miami-Dade Police Department, the suspect, identified as Steven Cole, allegedly contacted the victims with fraudulent claims involving a relative requiring urgent surgery. The first call came on July 5, 2024, from a number spoofed to appear as the victim's nephew, followed by a second call a week later requesting funds for liver transplant costs. Investigators say Cole convinced the family to wire a total of $73,400 to accounts he controlled, exploiting their concern for a healthy family member. The scheme unraveled when the victims contacted their nephew directly, prompting a joint investigation with the Laurel Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Cole faces federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, currently held without bond at the Miami-Dade County Jail. Officials urge anyone in Laurel, Mississippi, and surrounding areas to verify emergency calls through direct contact before sending money, noting a rising trend in such scams targeting small-town families.