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Orlando banker accused of stealing thousands from customers

ORLANDO, Fla. — WFTV uncovered a bank worker in Orlando is under investigation, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from bank customers.

The victims told WFTV Michael Potts convinced them to hand over cash, and then took off.

WFTV learned Potts is facing charges in Georgia for the same thing.

Potts worked as a banker at Fifth Third Bank on Lee Road in Orlando.

"I'm from New York City, I'm a pretty street-smart kind of guy, but this guy was super, super smooth," said victim Andres Verney.

Verney, of Longwood, said he had no reason not to trust Potts.

Potts was working to get Verney a mortgage, but his credit wasn't good enough. That's when Verney claims Potts convinced him to deposit more than $1,000 into an outside account for a third party credit repair service. But he said his credit wasn't fixed and he never saw the money again.

"A month went by, two months went by, three months," Verney said. "All of a sudden he disappeared one day."

That was in April. Verney filed a police report and so did at least one other Orange County resident, who claims she was duped the same way.

"Same lingo, she told me word for word what he told me," said Verney.

But the bomb dropped in June when Potts was arrested on a warrant out of Georgia where police reports claim he stole $20,000 from one man in an investment scheme.

Police said there could be at least six more victims in Georgia.

Verney said he not only wants his money back, but wants to expose Potts so other victims don't fall for his trap.

  "(He's) scum of the earth, but he's a smooth talker and a polished criminal," said Verney.

Potts has not been charged for what happened in central Florida because authorities are still working to put their cases together.