{"id":181000,"date":"2026-03-06T17:55:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T17:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/181000\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T17:55:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T17:55:08","slug":"hillsborough-agencies-help-residents-fight-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/181000\/","title":{"rendered":"Hillsborough Agencies Help Residents Fight Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hillsborough County is a fast-rising slice of the American pie, but beneath the prosperity a shadow economy of con artists exists, preying on residents\u2019 personal data and financial holdings. Against this threat, awareness and preparation can serve as defenses. <\/p>\n

The jury duty scam targets the citizen\u2019s fear of the law, involving a phone call or text that lies about missing jury duty. There\u2019s a demand for immediate payment, often in the form of a gift card or wire transfer. According to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, that\u2019s a red flag for fraud. <\/p>\n

\u201cLegitimate courts will never ask for sensitive information or payment over the phone,\u201d he said in an official Hillsborough County Sheriff\u2019s Office YouTube video. \u201cIf you receive a call or a message about jury duty, take a moment to verify its authenticity.\u201d <\/p>\n

You can verify the matter by calling the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller\u2019s Office at 813-276-8100, never using the number provided by the caller. <\/p>\n

The hot real estate market means property is as good as gold, and criminals steal it by filing false documents that transfer a home to them. To be vigilant, a property owner should enroll in the fraud alert system offered by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller\u2019s Office. This notification system provides an instant warning of office-related activity regarding their property. You can learn more about the property fraud alert service and register online at https:\/\/hillsclerk.com\/<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Scams targeting human emotion are where the fraudster poses as a desperate grandchild, a lawyer or a cop and calls with a catastrophic tale of a fabricated crisis. They demand immediate, secret cash to resolve a disaster. It is an exploitation of the powerful obligation to family for quick, easy money. If a family member calls with an emergency, ask them a question only they would know the answer to, or simply call them back on a number you know is theirs. <\/p>\n

Similarly, the romance scam involves a virtual life of faked intimacy, with the scammer inventing a financial emergency and begging the victim for money, promising a reunion that hinges on a timely bank transfer. <\/p>\n

The essential rule for navigating the danger of fraud is virtually written in stone: Verify, don\u2019t trust. Never send money, gift cards or personal information based on a voice that called you, or a contact that appears randomly on a screen. <\/p>\n

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