U.S. law enforcement has arrested a Florida couple accused of running a large-scale vishing (voice phishing) campaign, impersonating bank security staff and defrauding victims across multiple states. At least 14 victims have been identified so far, with total losses exceeding $22,000.
The Franklin Township Police Department in New Jersey announced the arrest of the suspects on December 18, 2025, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Officers stopped the duo in a rented vehicle with Florida license plates, where they discovered a large amount of cash, 68 gift cards, 11 mobile phones, and a laptop.
Investigators identified the suspects as 24-year-old Olivia Jean Baptiste and 29-year-old Michael Rampal, both from Florida. According to police, the pair called victims while posing as bank security representatives, using caller ID spoofing to make the calls appear legitimate.
During the vishing calls, the suspects falsely claimed that victims’ credit card accounts had been compromised and requested personal information for “verification.” Once enough data was obtained, they accessed the accounts and transferred funds onto gift cards, which were later used to purchase high-end electronics.
Detectives determined that the couple frequently rented vehicles in Florida and traveled to the northeastern U.S. to carry out the fraud. The investigation began after multiple victims reported unauthorized transactions.
While at least 14 victims have been confirmed, authorities believe the scheme may have affected many more people. The suspects have been linked to similar fraud cases spanning several states, potentially reaching as far north as Massachusetts.
The case highlights the ongoing effectiveness of vishing attacks, which rely on social engineering rather than technical exploits. By combining spoofed phone numbers, urgency tactics, and trust in banking institutions, criminals continue to successfully steal financial data and funds.
