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 Wednesday, August, 28, 2019.

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 Deputy Jackson with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

According to detectives, the suspect knows the name or a family members name and address of the person being called. The suspect identifies himself as a deputy and informs the citizen that they have an outstanding warrant for missing jury duty. The suspect is calling from a local number, (727) 401-4808, and will request victims to return his call if he misses them. 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 may instruct the citizen to go to the nearest store to purchase gift cards. The suspect would instruct the citizen to provide the numbers on the back of the gift card and claim 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.