A Brooklyn-based flight attendant has been arrested for allegedly defrauding a 75-year-old Florida resident of approximately $25,000 through a sweepstakes scam. Destiny Blake, 24, is accused of exploiting her travel benefits to perpetrate the fraud and fund a lavish lifestyle.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly stated in a release that Blake allegedly used her American Airlines standby perks to carry out her scam. "Most flight attendants use their benefits to see the world. Blake used hers to further a scam against a senior resident, live a lavish lifestyle using stolen bank cards and thinking she could get away with it," Staly said.
Authorities apprehended Blake at Miami airport on Friday. She faces charges including organized scheme to defraud over $20,000 from a victim 65 or older, fraudulent use of personal identification information of a person 60 or older, and grand theft over $20,000. She was booked into the Miami-Dade County jail and later released on a $30,000 bond.
The scam reportedly began in November when the victim received a call from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, informing her she had won a prize. To claim the prize, she was instructed to send a $500 gift card to a "Destiny Blake" in Brooklyn. Following this initial contact, the victim's email account was compromised, and her address was changed without her authorization.
Over a period of four days, the senior withdrew over $14,000 from her bank, with Blake allegedly receiving $14,220 in cash and Zelle payments. The scam continued even when Blake was at airports in Daytona Beach and Charlotte. Police also stated that Blake used her travel privileges to fly to the victim's home in Palm Coast.
investigators found a note at the victim's residence instructing her to inform her credit card company that Blake was her granddaughter and had permission to use the card. Between November 16 and December 11, the victim's credit card was used for approximately $10,590 in purchases. These included $1,740 for eBay items allegedly shipped to Blake's address, $1,523 for Apple products, and about $1,300 spent at T-Mobile, Ugg, a Brooklyn salon, and on Uber rides and Uber Eats. Surveillance video reportedly shows Blake at a Queens supermarket, and online orders were placed using her name, email, and phone number.
American Airlines has been contacted for comment.