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

What:
Detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit are encouraging the public to be on alert to a recent telephone scam occurring in Pinellas County.

When:
Detectives were first notified of the phone scam on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.

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

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

According to detectives, 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 or show up for jury duty.

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

Please note: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will not call citizens requesting money over the telephone. Citizens should not give personal information or account information over the telephone unless they are initiating the phone call and confident they are speaking with a trusted source.

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.