Some Pinellas County residents have been receiving phone calls “from” Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Deputy Paul Carey, regarding arrest warrants and citation payments.
These are scams, according to Geoff Moore, the office’s media relations and crime prevention unit deputy. Similar situations have occurred before.
“Scammers can find either a real deputy or make up a name. They will then call any number until someone answers,” he said. “The first reaction for the average victim is fear.”
The criminals will explain to the individual that the issue can be resolved monetarily instead of an arrest. They will then send over Cash App, Zelle or Venmo information for the victim to pay their supposed “fine.” Some may even ask the person to purchase a gift card.
Usually, the scammers will give a set amount such as $1,000, Moore explained. However, they will typically add a processing fee as well – making the individual pay even more.
“There’s no real way to stop it from happening outside of educating yourself on the scam and being aware,” he said. “The most important thing we want people to know is that the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is never going to call someone and ask them for money.”
It’s essential for victims to “take control” of the situation – even though that may be difficult to do. Moore advises individuals to “take a deep breath and hang the phone up.” They are then encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office to confirm the legitimacy of the call.
One of the most challenging parts of the scam, he added, is when people search officer names online to see if the supposed caller is a real person. If a victim discovers that a scammer is portraying an actual deputy, this causes even more fear. It can make people think that they are speaking to the officer when they are really not.
Moore emphasized that quick online searches are not enough. If the caller is asking for financial payments, it is certainly a scam: Deputies will not call regarding warrants, citations or missed jury duty.
Criminals will even leave a callback number if the person misses the initial communication attempt. They can “spoof” police office or company numbers as well.
Citizens often get scammed from entities pretending to be companies such as Duke Energy and Spectrum, he added. These organizations do not ask for payments on platforms like Venmo or through gift cards. Individuals should call to confirm any missed bills.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office posted a message about the recent scams on Facebook, following “increased reports.”