More than $300,000 dollars. That’s how much one victim lost in an organized fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims. Mohit Mohit, the man accused of posing as a representative of the United States Marshals Service is behind bars, and detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office are asking additional victims to come forward.

Last month, investigators with BSO’s Tamarac District received a report of a 75-year-old woman who was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a man posing as a U.S. Marshal.

Here's how the scam worked – the victim received a telephone call from an individual claiming to represent Walmart's fraud department regarding a fraudulent purchase of a $1,400 Apple laptop made in her name. After denying the purchase, she was transferred to several individuals before ultimately speaking with a suspect who identified himself as "U.S. Marshal Adam Peterson." The suspect falsely told the victim her identity had been used in connection with an abandoned vehicle in Texas containing narcotics, cash, and evidence of human trafficking. The suspect further claimed that a federal arrest warrant had been issued for her and stated that she could either retain an attorney for $100,000 dollars or cooperate with a federal investigation to clear her name. Throughout the conversation, the suspect provided fraudulent badge numbers, case numbers, telephone numbers, and the names of additional fictitious government employees to lend credibility to the scheme.

The perpetrator then told the victim to liquidate her financial assets and convert the funds into gold, as the suspects claimed the assets needed to be secured until the investigation concluded. Acting on those instructions, the victim complied. The suspects instructed the victim to package the gold in a specific manner, write an account number on the package, and remain on the telephone with "Marshal Peterson" throughout the process. The victim was given a code to provide a courier she would meet at a gas station to make the exchange. The victim complied before realizing this was a scam. The victim lost family savings accumulated over approximately 33 years.

Following their investigation, BSO detectives identified 21-year-old Mohit Mohit as the suspect who made the exchanges. Detectives say two vehicles were used in the scheme, a red Honda Accord and a grey Jeep SUV. BSO detectives developed probable cause for Mohit’s arrest as an active and willing participant in a large-scale nationwide organized fraud scheme.

Mohit was arrested on BSO’s warrant in Bradford County, Florida. Mohit faces several charges including scheme to defraud, grand theft on a person 65-years old or older, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

If you live in a BSO jurisdiction and believe you are a victim of a similar scam, call BSO Detective Steven Lees at 954-720-2225 or BSO’s non-emergency number at 954-764-HELP (4357).

Remember, scammers are always looking for ways to separate victims from their money. Don’t fall for their ploy. BSO and law enforcement agencies will NEVER call asking for money or personal banking information.

Follow these tips:

• Never send/give money because of an unexpected phone call, text or email.

• Never share personal, financial or banking information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.

• Verify requests by contacting the organization directly using an official phone number or website.

• If something feels suspicious, hang up immediately and report the incident to local authorities.