BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BROWARD COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The Broward Sheriff’s Office just nabbed two guys who allegedly scammed Uber out of a significant amount of cash. The scam: somewhat brilliant. The execution: not so much. The alleged thieves were nabbed thanks to Uber — and local law enforcement’s — investigative measures. The following statement was provided to BocaNewsNow.com by BSO:
Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives say two Broward County men ordered and delivered more than groceries and provisions from Uber.
Following a nearly eight-month-long investigation, detectives in BSO’s Strategic Investigations Division obtained arrest warrants for Trayon Morgan and Roy Blackwood who are suspected of scamming Uber out of more than $1 million, creating fake accounts, and using phony and stolen names.
According to investigators, the fraud started in January 2022 and took place mainly in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Morgan used the Uber Eats software application and would act as the customer and the courier. He would place a grocery order as a consumer for pickup under a fake account, then accept the order as the courier. Uber would then provide Morgan with a preauthorized and preloaded credit card to make the purchase. Morgan could purchase up to $700 during a single purchase. Then, as the consumer, he would cancel it and proceed to purchase a gift card with the Uber credit card.
On several occasions, Blackwood would drive Morgan to different Walgreens to commit the fraud. On Jan. 24, 2023, detectives conducted a surveillance operation and observed Morgan and Blackwood travel to 27 different Walgreens committing fraud that totaled a $5,013.28 loss for Uber that day. Morgan created several fake accounts to keep the fraud going. He would often use stolen and fabricated identities of Uber drivers, using their license information and altering it with his own photo. With help of Uber and other investigative techniques, detectives were able to confirm Morgan’s involvement with the fake accounts.
On Aug. 7, arrest warrants were issued for the duo. On Aug. 16, Blackwood was arrested by Palm Beach Gardens Police Department. On Aug. 22, BSO detectives arrested Morgan in Tamarac. As a result of this investigation, the two suspects face charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.
