Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Economic Crimes Unit

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

When:
Detectives were first notified of the phone scam on Monday, January 23, 2017.

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

Why/How:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detectives 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 and identifying himself as Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Thomas Jackson.

According to detectives, the suspect identifies himself and informs the citizen that they have an outstanding warrant for missing jury duty. The suspect tells the citizen that if they don’t turn themselves in at the Sheriff’s Office, or pay the fines, they will be arrested at their residence. 

The suspect instructs the citizen to go to the nearest convenience store to purchase gift cards in increments of $500.00. The suspect instructs the citizen to provide the numbers on the back of the gift card and claims that the warrant will be purged from the system once the money is paid. 

Detectives say there have been multiple incidents where Pinellas County citizens have been targeted using this scam.

***Please note: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will never call citizens requesting money over the telephone. Detectives advise citizens to not give personal information or account information over the phone, and call the Sheriff’s Office to report suspicious activity.  

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.