The Face of Fraud Is Often Familiar
By Greg Collier
When people picture a scammer, they often imagine someone halfway around the world, operating out of a shadowy call center or hiding behind a keyboard with a fake name and a fake accent. What they rarely picture is someone who looks like a neighbor. Or a retiree. Or someone’s grandfather.
But that image is exactly why scams keep working.
This week, police in Fort Myers, Florida announced the arrest of Benton M. Reynaert, a local man accused of playing a central role in a worldwide technology support scam that siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims in the United States, Canada, and Australia. According to investigators, Reynaert acted as a money mule, the person who receives stolen funds and moves them along, making the fraud possible.
And by all accounts, he does not fit the stereotype most people expect.
A Familiar Face in a Global Scam
Police say Reynaert was involved in a classic Microsoft/IT technical support scam. Victims were confronted with alarming pop-up messages claiming their computers had been locked or compromised. Once panicked, they were pressured into paying money after being told a refund error had occurred or that immediate action was required to prevent further damage.
This is a well-known scam model. What stands out here is not the script but the person alleged to be facilitating it.
Reynaert, described as an older white man from Fort Myers, allegedly helped move stolen funds overseas using nearly every red-flag payment method law enforcement warns about:
- cryptocurrency kiosks
- gift cards
- wire transfers
- Western Union
- checks
These are not accidental choices. They are deliberate because they are difficult to trace and nearly impossible for victims to recover once sent.
Why Appearances Matter
Scammers rely on assumptions.
Many victims hesitate to question instructions when the person on the other end of the transaction doesn’t look “suspicious.” A familiar face lowers defenses. A polite voice sounds trustworthy. Someone who looks like they could be your grandfather doesn’t trigger the mental alarm bells people associate with crime.
That’s the point.
Modern scams are structured like businesses. They use layers, callers, scripts, payment processors, and money mules, to distance the core operators from victims and law enforcement. People like Reynaert, police say, become essential links in that chain, whether they convince themselves they’re doing legitimate work or knowingly participate in criminal activity.
Either way, the harm is the same.
The Real Red Flags
The Fort Myers Police Department emphasized a reminder that bears repeating:
Legitimate companies and government agencies will never ask you to:
- send cash
- buy gift cards
- use cryptocurrency kiosks
- wire money
- mail packages of cash or checks
Not for refunds. Not for security issues. Not for “errors.”
Urgency, fear, and secrecy are the real warning signs—not what the scammer looks like.
Final Thoughts
Scams don’t come with a uniform. They don’t wear hoodies or masks. They often look ordinary, respectable, and disarming.
That’s why education and not appearance is the strongest defense.
If you encounter a pop-up warning, a demand for unconventional payment, or pressure to act immediately, stop. Disconnect. Talk to a trusted family member. Contact law enforcement. The money you save could be your own or someone else’s.
Because the next person behind the scam might not look like a criminal at all.
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