A recent incident in Miami Beach has brought to light the issue of phone theft scams that have been targeting unsuspecting victims. James Plitsas and Michael Martin, a two-man team, have been accused of scamming people out of money by using their cell phones to withdraw large sums of cash.
Bodycam footage shared exclusively with 7News shows Miami Beach Police detaining James Plitsas, who is believed to be a serial scammer operating in the area. One victim came forward to confirm that Plitsas had scammed her out of money, stating, “That’s the guy that robbed me. It all happened so fast.”
In a previous incident in April, Plitsas was arrested for conning people into letting him use their phones to send himself money. One victim recounted how Plitsas introduced himself as a performer and artist, promising to help her reach a larger audience on social media. However, instead of fulfilling his promise, Plitsas stole $1,200 from her Venmo account.
His alleged partner, Michael Martin, was also recently arrested but has since bonded out. Miami Beach Police Department Christopher Bess expressed concern over the duo’s intentions, stating that they were preying on innocent victims in the city.
Plitsas, Martin, and other scammers are said to target unsuspecting victims on the beach by posing as club promoters or recording artists. They promise access to exclusive clubs and bars in exchange for using victims’ phones to link their Instagram pages. However, after returning the phones, victims later discover that their Venmo or Cash App accounts have been emptied.
To combat these scams, MBPD has been actively warning the public through social media and TV about safeguarding their finances and not giving their phones to strangers. Officer Bess emphasized the importance of staying vigilant during the holiday and travel season, as there tends to be an uptick in theft and crimes of opportunity.
Plitsas and Martin are facing charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft for their involvement in these scams. The police are urging residents, tourists, and visitors to be cautious and not to hand over their belongings, especially their phones, to strangers. By raising awareness about these recurring scams, law enforcement hopes to prevent further incidents of theft and fraud in the area.
