JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A fraud alert and quick action by bank employees helped stop what the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says was an attempt to exploit a 79-year-old man from Middleburg into withdrawing over $10,000.
Police say a 17-year-old was detained and is facing a juvenile charge. News4JAX is not naming the teen because he is under 18. We are identifying the victim only as “Don,” and the family friend who spoke with us as “Ashley.”
According to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest report, officers were called to the VyStar Credit Union branch on Merchants Way in the Oakleaf area on Wednesday.
The report says the victim, a 79-year-old from Middleburg, came into the branch around 2 p.m. and tried to withdraw $13,000 in cash.
Bank employees told police they asked questions because of the man’s age and because he appeared confused, according to the report. When they checked his account, they discovered two large withdrawals had already been made earlier that day:
- $5,000 from VyStar’s Middleburg branch
- $5,000 from VyStar’s Branan Field branch
The arrest report says employees were told the victim was being driven from branch to branch by the people waiting outside.
Police say employees kept the victim inside and called officers.
An officer wrote that as they arrived, a white GMC Sierra pulled out of the parking lot. The officer said bank staff and a customer pointed to the truck as the suspect vehicle. Police stopped the truck nearby and detained the driver — a 17-year-old — and the teen’s brother, who was also in the vehicle, according to the report.
JSO says the $10,000 that had been withdrawn earlier was recovered and returned to the victim.
The 17-year-old is charged as a juvenile with attempted exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult.
Ashley, a friend of the victim’s family, said the incident was discovered after the victim’s daughter received a fraud alert on her phone.
When Ashley tracked him to the final bank, the teller informed her of the situation.
“Incredibly thankful,” she said. “The danger with that is incredible, like they could have hurt him.”
VyStar said in a statement to News4JAX that it does not publicly share the specific criteria used to trigger fraud alerts for security reasons, adding that when an alert is generated, it is immediately routed to its internal Fraud Team for review, and branch staff are trained to report suspicious activity — particularly if a member appears confused or under pressure during a withdrawal.
VyStar also told News4JAX that in higher-risk situations, it may temporarily limit account access while activity is reviewed, and law enforcement is contacted when there is evidence of a credible threat, coercion, or active fraud.
How to protect older loved ones from financial exploitation
The American Bankers Association (ABA) recommends families take proactive steps to reduce risk and spot problems early. Key steps include:
1) Set up account alerts
- Turn on text/email alerts for large withdrawals, unusual spending, or multiple transactions in a short period.
- Make sure a trusted family member receives alerts when appropriate.
2) Use trusted contacts and legal tools
- Ask the bank about designating a trusted contact.
- Power of attorney and other legal documents can help family members act quickly if concerns arise.
3) Watch for red flags
- Unusual cash withdrawals or sudden changes in banking routines
- A new “friend” or stranger showing interest in finances
- Pressure to pay in cash for home repairs or services
- Someone insisting on driving the person to the bank
4) Keep frequent check-ins
- Ashley said simple check-ins and location tools can make a difference when something feels off.
- “Whether it’s tracking on the phone or an air tag,” she said. “Don’t hesitate, don’t wait. Take action, and clarify something if something seems off right away.”
5) Report concerns quickly
- Contact the bank immediately if you suspect coercion or fraud.
- If you believe someone is in danger or a crime is in progress, call law enforcement.
More information from the ABA is available here.