Gwinnett County Police Recover Over $100,000 for Victim of Business Email Scam

Detectives from the Gwinnett County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit successfully returned over $100,000 in stolen cash to a female victim who fell prey to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam.

In December 2022, the victim received an email impersonating a real estate closing attorney while she was in the process of purchasing a home. The scammer, posing as her closing attorney, instructed her to wire $131,092.55 to finalize the sale. Unbeknownst to the victim, the funds were redirected to a JP Morgan Chase Bank account in New York, not to her attorney.

Following an investigation, detectives determined that the money had been sent to an account controlled by Edina Winter of Glen Cove, New York. Glen Cove Police confirmed that Winter had no connection to the real estate transaction and was in possession of the victim’s money.

Winter has since been charged in New York and has returned $45,092.55, which she personally used from the stolen funds. Additionally, with the help of JP Morgan Chase, detectives seized the remaining $86,000, which was subsequently returned to the victim.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Gwinnett County Police detectives at 770.513.5300. For anonymous tips, individuals can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 404.577.TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters may receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment.