JAMIE SPECIAL REPORTS FROM THE INVESTIGATORS. AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH ERIK VON
ANCKEN. THIS IS NEWS 6 AT 6
GETTING RESULTS. YOU ARE CON
MEN.
>> THEY CALLED ME A COMMENT.
FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS NEWS. 6
HAS BEEN ON THE TRAIL OF THIS
CONVICTED FRAUDSTER. MICHAEL
NELSON HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF
PRISON FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE.
>> FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ONCE
CALLED HIM A SERIAL NOW HE’S
INVOLVED IN A NEW BUSINESS
TARGETING PEOPLE ON SOCIAL
MEDIA APPS LIKE TIKTOK AND
INSTAGRAM NEWS. 6 INVESTIGATOR
MIKE DEFOREST SHOWS US HOW IT
WORKS.
>> MICHAEL NELSON, WHO IS OUT
OF PRISON AND LIVING IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA IS NOT ACCUSED
OF ANY WRONGDOING AND HE’S NOT
CHARGED WITH ANY NEW CRIMES.
BUT WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT A SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY.
HE RECENTLY OPENED.
>> WHAT GOING THERE TO
VIOLENT. SPENT $60.
>> SAFE. AVIS ENJOYS
DOCUMENTING HER LIFE IN TIKTOK
VIDEOS AFTER ONE OF HER VIDEOS
WENT VIRAL. EVEN RECEIVED THIS
MESSAGE REPORTEDLY FROM AN
AGENCY OFFERING TO GET HER
SOCIAL MEDIA BRAND DEALS WITH
COMPANIES LIKE NORDSTROM,
APPLE AND STARBUCKS. POTENTIAL
STARTING PAY $300,000 A YEAR.
>> IT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE. I
THOUGHT, OKAY, I COULD
ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY MAKE SOME
MONEY THIS WAY. SO I BOUGHT.
LET ME GET A SHOT. EVEN
CONTACTED THE AGENCY LOVE BY
MICHAEL AND SPOKE WITH THE
AGENCY’S PRESIDENT AND CEO
MICHAEL NELSON. KIND OF KNEW
EVERYTHING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA.
THIS GUY SOUNDS LIKE, YOU
KNOW, TALK UNBEKNOWNST TO
AVIS.
>> MICHAEL NELSON IS A
CONVICTED FELON WHO SPENT MORE
THAN 17 YEARS IN FEDERAL
PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD,
COMPUTER FRAUD AND IDENTITY
THEFT. HE’S POSED AS A LAWYER,
A BANKER AND A BUSINESS
CONSULTANT. SO OPERATING ON
EVERYONE ELSE AND EVEN CLAIMED
TO BE A PASTOR. YOU ARE CON
MEN. THEY CALLED ME A 6 YEARS
AGO. NELSON ASSURED ME HE HAD
TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND.
>> YOUR CHANGE, MAN?
DEFINITELY 1000%. NO MORE
CONS. NO MORE CALM. NOT
RIPPING ANYBODY OFF.
>> WRITTEN ABOUT IT OFF
SHORTLY AFTER THIS INTERVIEW,
NELSON WAS SENT BACK TO
PRISON. NOW HE’S OUT AGAIN.
WELL, LIKE THIS GUY IS
AMAZING. TARGETING ASPIRING
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS LIKE
HE IS A GREAT SALESPERSON.
TALL SILVA AND JUDGE AMY ALBA
MET WITH NELSON USING ZOOM
DURING THESE VIDEO CHATS. THE
WOMEN SAY NELSON OFFERED TO
GET THEM BRAND DEALS WITH
MAJOR COMPANIES. HE WAS SO
GENUINE AND WE’RE LIKE VERY
PEOPLE PEOPLE. SO MADE A
CONNECTION DURING THE CALL. SO
WE’RE LIKE THIS THE SCAMMER.
TO BE SOME SORT OF NEXT LEVEL
SCOUT. BUT THE 2 BECAME
SUSPICIOUS WHEN NELSON SENT IN
THIS CONTRACT REQUIRING THEM
TO PAY $5,000 FOR LEGAL
SERVICES.
>> HE SAID YOU CAN IT UP. YOU
CAN PAY BUT IF YOU CANS WE DO
A MONTH. THE A BIWEEKLY
INSTALLMENT, THEY REFUSED TO
PAY. HE SOUNDED LIKE A
PROFESSIONAL TO VERY CONFIDENT
EMPLOYS A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND
AVIS SAYS SHE SENT NELSON
$300. BUT AFTER A DISCOVERED
MY PREVIOUS NEW 6
INVESTIGATIONS INTO NELSON,
SHE SAYS SHE CONFRONTED HIM
AND DEMANDED TO BE RELEASED
FROM HER CONTRACT. ACCORDING
TO HIM, YOU ARE HIS MORTAL
ENEMY AND KIND OF THE BANE OF
HIS EXISTENCE. THE THORN IN
HIS SIDE, NELSON DID NOT
RETURN MY PHONE CALLS AND
E-MAILS INQUIRING ABOUT HIS
NEW AGENCY.
>> JUST THIS WEEK WE FOUND HIM
LIVING AT AN EXTENDED STAY
HOTEL IN ORLANDO.
>> WHEN NELSON SAW OUR CAMERA,
HE KNOWS THAT FOR THE DOOR.
MISTER NELSON COULD TALKING
ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. MISTER
NELSON, WE TALK ABOUT YOUR
BUSINESS.
>> THE WEBSITE FOR NELSON’S
AGENCY INCLUDES THE NAMES AND
PHOTOGRAPHS. SEVERAL EMPLOYEES
WHO WORKED FOR NELSON
PERSPECTIVE. CLIENTS SAY THOSE
EMPLOYEES GAVE HIS BUSINESS
EVEN MORE CREDIBILITY. BUT 2
OF THOSE EMPLOYEES NOW TELL ME
THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT
NELSON’S CRIMINAL PAST AND IT
SIMPLY RESPONDED TO HELP
WANTED ADS ON JOB RECRUITMENT
WEBSITE. BOTH OF THOSE
EMPLOYEES CLAIM NELSON NEVER
PAID THEM ONE EVENTUALLY QUIT.