Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

What:
Deputies are encouraging the public to be on alert to a recent phone scam occurring in Pinellas County.

When:
Deputies were first notified of the phone scam on Friday, June 17, 2016.

Where:
The suspect is calling residents located in Pinellas County.

Why/How:
Pinellas County Deputies are encouraging the public to be on alert to a recent phone scam occurring in Pinellas County. The suspect is calling residents in Pinellas County posing as Sheriff’s Office, Captain Mark Dunnagan.

According to deputies, the suspect calls victims and tells them he is a captain with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and they have failed to appear in court.

The suspect explains to victims that if they do not pay a fine, he will send a deputy to their home to arrest them.

The suspect making the phone calls is a male and the calls have all come from a telephone number with a (727) area code. 

Please note: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will never call citizens requesting money over the telephone. Deputies advise citizens should not give personal information or account information over the phone unless you are initiating the phone call.

If anyone has information on this scam or has become a victim they are asked to call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.

The investigation continues.