Pasco County, Fla. – The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office issued a public warning on Thursday about an active telephone scam that targets local residents. Scammers are calling individuals while spoofing official law‑enforcement numbers and claiming to be deputies or other county employees.
How the scam works
According to the sheriff’s office, the callers tell victims they have an active arrest warrant and must pay a fine immediately to avoid arrest. To make the call appear legitimate, the fraudsters spoof the caller‑ID so the agency’s name and a general‑information phone number are displayed. In some cases, they direct callers to the sheriff’s office’s closed Grove location, hoping the reference will convince the target that an investigation is underway.
Victims are instructed to send payment through methods that are difficult to trace, including gift cards, Zelle, PayPal, Bitcoin and other digital‑transfer platforms. The scammers often demand that the gift‑card codes be read aloud over the phone or sent via text.
Official response
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson John Miller emphasized that the department never contacts individuals to collect money for any criminal or civil matter. “Pasco Sheriff’s Office will never contact individuals for any form of payment to resolve issues, criminal or otherwise,” the statement read.
The agency urged anyone who receives such a call to hang up immediately, avoid providing personal or financial information, and report the incident to the sheriff’s office. Residents can forward the phone number, caller‑ID details and any recorded messages to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office non‑emergency line at (555) 123‑4567.
Protecting yourself
Law‑enforcement experts recommend the following steps to avoid falling victim to similar scams:
- Never send money or gift‑card codes to an unknown caller.
- Verify any claim of an outstanding warrant by contacting the sheriff’s office directly using a known phone number.
- Be skeptical of urgent language that pressures you to act quickly.
- Report suspicious calls to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s fraud hotline at 1‑800‑FRAUD‑01.
Pasco County officials also reminded the public that legitimate notices about warrants are typically delivered in writing and that the department does not use gift cards or digital‑payment platforms for any official transaction.
Community impact
While the scam appears to be limited to Pasco County at this time, similar impersonation schemes have been reported across Florida and other states. The sheriff’s office is working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the source of the calls and to pursue any criminal activity linked to the fraud.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about common fraud tactics and to share this warning with family members, especially seniors who are often targeted by phone scams.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
