Flight attendant arrested for $25,000 sweepstakes scam on elderly woman

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 19:44 · Archive

A 24-year-old American Airlines flight attendant from Brooklyn was arrested for using her travel benefits to defraud a 75-year-old Florida woman out of $25,000.

Destiny Blake, 24, from Brooklyn was arrested by US Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport on Friday evening on a warrant issued by Flagler County, Florida. She had allegedly conducted an elaborate sweepstakes scam targeting a 75-year-old woman living in Palm Coast, Florida over the past year.

Blake allegedly called the victim in November 2025 pretending to be a representative from Publishers Clearing House, a digital sweepstakes company, telling her she had won a contest. The victim was instructed to mail a $500 gift card to Blake's address in Brooklyn to retrieve her winnings. Around the same time, the victim lost access to her email account when the password was changed, and a look-alike account was created that she did not make.

Between 15 and 19 November 2025, the victim withdrew over $14,000 from her bank accounts, with Blake allegedly receiving $14,220 in cash and Zelle payments. The total alleged fraud reached approximately $25,310. Blake allegedly spent the stolen money on international flights, Apple products and food delivery orders.

On 18 November, Blake used her American Airlines flight benefits to fly from New York to Daytona Beach, Florida and took an Uber to the victim's home. According to Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, Blake allegedly continued her scam from Daytona Beach and Charlotte airports. She was arrested at Miami airport on Friday.

How it is being reported

• Brooklyn flight attendant busted in $25K sweepstakes scam targeting Florida senior: policeA New York flight attendant has been busted for allegedly using her travel benefits to fleece a 75-year-old senior citizen out of $25,000 as part of an elaborate sweepstakes scam.New York Post · 28 Oct, 19:26
• American Airlines flight attendant used her free travel benefits to jet to vulnerable elderly woman's house and scam her, sheriff claimsFlight attendant Destiny Blake from Brooklyn was arrested after she used her flight benefits to scam a senior citizen out of $25,000.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 23:58

In this story: Destiny Blake · American Airlines · Publishers Clearing House · Palm Coast · Brooklyn · Miami International Airport · Flagler County · Rick Staly

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log