MIAMI, FL — A 24-year-old American Airlines flight attendant was arrested Friday night at Miami International Airport after investigators linked her to a sweepstakes scam that allegedly drained more than $25,000 from a 75-year-old Palm Coast woman.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office detectives say Destiny Blake, of Brooklyn, New York, used travel benefits, electronic payments and stolen account access to carry out the scheme. She was taken into custody after arriving on an international flight, according to investigators.
The case stretches across multiple states and even overseas travel, with detectives alleging that Blake made in-person contact with the victim and then used the woman’s financial information for a series of purchases and transfers over several weeks.
How the sweepstakes pitch started the scam
Investigators said the fraud began in November 2025 when someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House told the victim she had won a sweepstakes. The woman was then told to mail a $500 gift card to Blake at a Brooklyn address.
From there, the losses escalated. Detectives said the victim later withdrew more than $14,000 from her bank, and Blake allegedly received $14,220 through cash and Zelle payments. The sheriff’s office also said the victim’s email password was changed and her account was switched to a look-alike address.
That kind of account manipulation often makes it harder for victims to spot what is happening in time, especially when scammers use a trusted brand name to create urgency and credibility. In this case, investigators say the deception led to a larger financial drain than the original gift-card request suggested.
Investigators say travel perks helped bring Blake to the victim’s door
On Nov. 18, investigators say Blake used her flight attendant privileges to fly standby from New York to Daytona Beach. From there, she took an Uber to a Palm Coast hotel, according to detectives.
The next morning, an Uber reportedly dropped her off at the victim’s home shortly before 11 a.m. About 15 minutes later, another Uber took her back to the airport. Detectives say the quick trip was part of the fraud operation they were piecing together.
Sheriff Rick Staly said flight attendants typically use travel benefits to see the world, but in this case, he said Blake used hers to help carry out a scam against a senior resident. His office says the travel trail became one of the key pieces of the investigation.
Credit card charges, Apple Card access and a Queens surveillance image
Detectives say they later learned Blake had been added as an authorized user on the victim’s Apple Card account. A family member also found a note telling the victim to inform the card company that Blake was her granddaughter and had permission to use the card.
Between Nov. 16 and Dec. 11, 2025, investigators say they identified 88 credit card charges totaling $10,590.30. Those purchases reportedly included Apple products, an eBay order shipped to Blake’s home, clothing, phone services and dozens of Uber rides and Uber Eats orders.
Investigators also said one Uber ride was paid for in Jamaican dollars in Kingston, Jamaica, two days after Blake flew there while working for American Airlines. Detectives further obtained surveillance video they say shows Blake using the victim’s card at a Queens supermarket.
What the arrest warrant says and what charges Blake faces
An arrest warrant was issued Oct. 13, 2026, according to court documents. Blake was later arrested at Miami International Airport and booked into the Miami-Dade County jail before being released on a $30,000 bond.
Flagler County authorities say the victim’s total losses were estimated at $25,310. Blake now faces charges of organized scheme to defraud more than $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.
The sheriff’s office has not said how long the case remained under investigation before the warrant was issued, but the timeline in court documents shows the fraud and spending pattern unfolding over several weeks in late 2025.
How officials say other seniors can protect themselves
Investigators are asking anyone who believes they were targeted in a similar scam, or who had financial contact with Blake, to call the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911.
The agency also points families to its senior safety guidance at flaglersheriff.com/senior-safety. For suspected financial exploitation, authorities say people can report concerns to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
The case is a reminder that scams often begin with a convincing story, then move quickly into gift cards, bank transfers, account takeovers and card misuse. In this investigation, detectives say the alleged losses reached well beyond the original sweepstakes pitch.
