Holocaust survivor swindled out of $2.8 million by Florida woman he met on dating app, fed say

A 36-year-old Florida woman was arrested after federal authorities say she swindled a Holocaust survivor out of $2.8 million in a “years-long scheme” that began on a dating app.

Peaches Stergo of Champions Gate, southwest of Orlando, was arrested Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement Stergo “maliciously” drained the life savings of an 87-year-old man so she could “become a millionaire through fraud.”

“Stergo forged documents and impersonated a bank employee in exchange for a life of fancy trips, Rolex watches, and luxury purchases,” Williams said.

Here’s what to know about the arrest: 

What happened

Authorities say Stergo met the Holocaust survivior, who was not named, on a dating app six-to-seven years ago.

In or around early 2017, Stergo told the victim she settled a lawsuit involving injuries she sustained in a car accident, but she wouldn’t get her settlement funds unless her lawyers received “a certain amount of money.”

Bank records showed the victim gave Stergo $25,000, even though authorities said she never received money for an injury settlement.

From 2017 to October 2021, Stergo “repeatedly lied” to the man to get him to send money. She was receiving nearly monthly checks in increments of around $50,000, telling the victim her bank needed more money or he would never be paid back.

“The victim continued to write checks because he was afraid he would never see his money again. In total, the victim wrote 62 checks – totaling over $2.8 million,” according to an indictment. 

Stergo also created a fake email account to appear as a bank employee, as well as fake letters and fake invoices that were sent to the victim, authorities said. 

The victim stopped writing checks to Stergo in around October 2021 after telling his son about the situation, who told his father he had been scammed.