Delray Beach Police Arrested Fraud Suspect
Authorities stopped a suspected scammer attempting to steal nearly $10,000 from a local resident.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Delray Beach police arrested 23-year-old Michael Alfonse Rescigno following an attempted financial fraud scheme. The suspect allegedly posed as an FDIC investigator to convince a victim to withdraw $9,895.
Why it matters
The suspect claimed the victim's bank account was compromised to coerce them into handing over funds. The victim successfully alerted authorities by using a second cell phone while maintaining contact with the scammer.
Michael Alfonse Rescigno was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail following his arrest. Detectives also confiscated a loaded 9mm handgun found inside the gray Kia SUV.
The players
Michael Alfonse Rescigno
The 23-year-old suspect was arrested for allegedly posing as an FDIC investigator to facilitate a fraud scheme.
Delray Beach Police
This local municipal agency conducted the investigation and coordinated the stop of the suspect vehicle.
Ronald Garcia
He was identified as one of the individuals found in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun during the traffic stop.
The details
Police tracked the suspects to a vehicle near Interstate 95 after the victim arranged a money handover at a Chase Bank on South Federal Highway. When detectives dialed the number used in the scam, the suspect's phone rang in their presence.
Timeline
Michael Alfonse Rescigno was arrested on October 6, 2026.
Legal Context
This incident follows a documented national pattern where scammers leverage fear of account compromise to impersonate federal authorities. Authorities increasingly see these crimes move from purely digital interaction to physical coordination involving couriers.
Residents are encouraged to verify bank requests by calling their financial institution directly from a trusted number. The presence of a loaded firearm during this fraud attempt highlights the potential danger when scams involve physical money handovers.
The takeaway
Scammers often create a sense of urgency to prevent victims from verifying the legitimacy of their claims. Using a separate line to verify information with a bank or government agency remains the most effective way to avoid these schemes.
Further reading
Learn more about local investigations in the Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WPEC.
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