Crime & Safety
Pearisburg, VA Scam Alert: 2 Florida Men Arrested in FBI Impersonation
Pearisburg, VA – Two Florida men are facing felony charges after Giles County deputies interrupted an alleged $10,000 bank fraud scheme involving a caller impersonating an FBI investigator and instruc
By Caleb Mercer · 2026-11-10T18:36:07.728Z
Pearisburg, VA – Two Florida men are facing felony charges after Giles County deputies interrupted an alleged $10,000 bank fraud scheme involving a caller impersonating an FBI investigator and instructing a resident to leave cash in a mailbox.
According to the Giles County Sheriff 's Office, deputies received a complaint Monday, Nov. 9, at approximately 2 p.m. regarding a suspicious phone call from someone claiming to represent Woodforest Bank.
Caller Allegedly Demanded $10,000 for Fake Investigation
Investigators said the caller told the potential victim that assistance was needed to investigate a bank employee at the branch where the resident maintained an account.
The caller allegedly instructed the resident to withdraw $10,000, place the cash in an envelope and leave it inside their home mailbox.
The caller claimed someone from the FBI would arrive to retrieve the money.
Deputies Respond to Suspicious Vehicle
Around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, the resident contacted authorities again after noticing suspicious individuals near the mailbox outside a home south of Pearisburg.
The caller reportedly contacted the resident again, requesting a meeting at the mailbox.
Deputies and Pearisburg police responded and located two men inside a vehicle near the residence.
Authorities arrested 20 year old Rakeem Hughey Collier of Miami, Florida, and 24 year old Pursell Shelton Bauer of Jacksonville, Florida.
Hughey Collier was charged with felony attempted obtaining money by false pretenses and felony conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses.
Bauer was charged with felony conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses.
Both men were being held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail, according to the sheriff's office.
Sheriff's Office Warns Residents About Similar Scams
Investigators credited the resident's cooperation for helping deputies respond before the alleged cash pickup.
Authorities emphasized that the FBI does not recruit residents by telephone to conduct undercover investigations or instruct them to withdraw large amounts of money.
Anyone receiving similar calls should contact local law enforcement immediately.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the charges are allegations. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.