A 20-year-old Orlando man has been arrested after investigators say he personally collected $120,000 in cash from an elderly Palm Coast woman as part of a tech support scam — and his arrest has since uncovered a second victim in North Carolina.
How the Scam Worked
On December 9, 2025, the Palm Coast victim received a pop-up notification on her computer telling her to call a fake support number. When she called, a scammer told her that both her computer and her bank account had been hacked. The caller instructed her to withdraw $60,000 in cash from her Chase bank account and bring it to the parking lot of a local Publix to hand off to a courier.
That courier, later identified as Steven Mercado of Orlando, walked across the parking lot, called the woman by her name, and provided a pre-arranged safe word. Believing the situation was legitimate, the victim handed over the $60,000.
The following day, the scammer called again, claiming there had been another breach of her account. Following the same instructions, the victim withdrew another $60,000 and met Mercado once more — this time in the parking lot of the Palm Coast Walmart — where the same safe word routine was used and the money was handed over.
On December 11, 2025, the scammers attempted to solicit additional money from the victim. At that point, she became suspicious and contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The Investigation
FCSO detectives, with assistance from the agency’s Real Time Crime Center, identified Mercado as the suspect. Security camera footage from both the Walmart and Publix locations confirmed Mercado and his vehicle were present during each exchange. Analysis of his phone’s location data also placed him at both drop-off sites. A review of his bank records revealed multiple large deposits and withdrawals that investigators described as suspicious.
FCSO’s General Assignment Unit obtained an arrest warrant charging Mercado with an organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.
Arrest and Additional Charges
With assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the FCSO Fugitive Apprehension Unit, Mercado was arrested during a traffic stop in Orange County on Friday, March 6. He was transported to the Orange County Jail, where he was booked on additional charges of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of marijuana over 20 grams. He was later released on a $23,500 bond.
Sheriff Rick Staly expressed both satisfaction at the arrest and frustration at the outcome. “This scammer had no shame, swindling over $100,000 from a senior but his luck ran out when he did it in Flagler County,” Staly said. “In Flagler County, we have the best of the best detectives to hunt down scammers who prey on our seniors. I’m disappointed that he was given such a low bond on our charges and that he wasn’t held in jail by Orange County, especially after being found with a gun. Unfortunately, because he is out of jail, he is likely scamming more seniors. Dirtbags like this never learn until they are locked-up for a long time.”
A Second Victim Discovered
During the investigation, detectives identified additional suspicious financial transactions in Mercado’s records, including wire transfers connected to other potential victims. That information led investigators to a victim in Durham, North Carolina, who had been scammed out of $37,463.15. FCSO shared its findings with the Durham Police Department, which filed additional charges against Mercado for obtaining property by false pretenses.
The post Fugitive Who Scammed Elderly Palm Coast Woman Out of $120,000 Arrested — Sheriff Slams Low Bond first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
