A Florida woman is facing criminal charges after authorities say she used Facebook Dating to trick a disabled man into sending her thousands of dollars by claiming she was trapped in an abusive relationship.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested Gianna Abel-Venezia following an investigation into the online relationship. According to a press release issued by detectives, Abel-Venezia met the victim on the social media dating platform and moved their communication to phone calls. To convince the victim she was in danger and needed money to escape, she allegedly sent photos that appeared to show physical injuries.
Believing the story, the victim sent over $2,000 to Abel-Venezia despite the fact that the two had never met in person.
When the victim eventually discovered the deception and confronted her, Abel-Venezia reportedly acknowledged the ruse. According to the sheriff’s office, “she admitted she was only talking to him for money and because he was disabled.” She also reportedly told the victim that she had been running similar schemes since 2025, bragging that “there ain’t nun that can happen.”
READ: Clearwater Woman Fights Off Knife-Wielding Intruder Before Deputies Shoot, Kill Suspect
Upon her arrest, Abel-Venezia reportedly expressed surprise that her actions carried criminal penalties. “She admitted she knew what she did was technically wrong,” the sheriff’s office stated. “What she didn’t expect was learning that scamming people out of money is, in fact, illegal.”
During her interview with investigators, Abel-Venezia allegedly deflected responsibility for the financial transaction, telling police, “If someone is ‘dumb enough’ to send money, that’s on them.”
The victim told law enforcement that he only sent the funds because he felt sorry for her situation and genuinely wanted to help her escape a violent household. Before the conclusion of her police interview, Abel-Venezia asked the tracking detectives if they could apologize to the victim on her behalf.
Abel-Venezia has been formally charged with defrauding property or committing organized fraud. She is currently scheduled to appear in court for her arraignment on June 23.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office believes there may be additional victims who have interacted with Abel-Venezia under similar circumstances. Authorities are asking anyone with information or similar allegations to come forward and contact MCSO detectives.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbo
