An American Airways Flight Attendant Allegedly Used Her Journey Advantages to Rip-off a Senior. 1 Journey Helped Expose the $25,310 Scheme
The alleged scheme started with a $500 gift card request. Then a Florida woman reportedly lost more than $25,000.
An American Airlines flight attendant has been arrested after allegedly defrauding a 75-year-old woman out of approximately $25,000.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, Destiny Blake used a sweepstakes scam to defraud the woman. Officials say that the scam started in November 2025 with a phone call in which Blake claimed to be with Publishers Clearing House. She told the woman that she had won and needed to collect her “winnings” by mailing a $500 gift card to “Destiny Blake” at an address in Brooklyn, New York.
The woman was subsequently locked out
The woman was subsequently locked out of her email account and bank account. Officials said from November 15 to November 19, 2025, the victim withdrew more than $14,000 from her bank. Blake allegedly received $14,220 in cash and Zelle payments.
The sheriff’s office said that Blake flew from New York to Daytona Beach in mid-November as a passenger. She then took an Uber to the victim’s home and spent 15 minutes inside before taking another Uber to the Daytona Beach International Airport.
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“Most flight attendants use their benefits to see the world. Blake used hers to further a scam against a senior resident, live a lavish lifestyle using stolen bank cards, and thinking she could get away with it,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Her wings were clipped by our detectives, and with the help of CPB she was arrested.”
Travel records
Before Blake flew home, purchases were made
Before Blake flew home, purchases were made with the woman’s credit card at the Daytona Beach and Charlotte airports. Detectives determined Blake had been issued her own Apple Card as an authorized user on the victim’s account. Officials say the victim lost approximately $25,310 in total.
Officials found 88 charges totaling $10,590 on the victim’s credit cards from November 16 to December 11, 2025. Purchases included a $1,740.91 eBay order shipped to Blake’s Brooklyn address and $1,523.16 in Apple products. Officials said Blake continued to use the victim’s credit card information while working for American Airlines, including to pay for an Uber ride in Kingston, Jamaica.
Source: www.inc.com
