A common scam is increasing in frequency in our area and the scammer is using familiar names to lend credibility to his fraud.
The scammer uses the phone to make contact with his intended victim, informing the victim they have missed jury duty and now have a warrant out for their arrest. The scammer has done their homework and is claiming to be a law enforcement officer with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, using the names of real law enforcement officers at the BCSO. Scammers are “spoofing” the real number at the BCSO, making it look like the scam call came from the actual offices of the BCSO.
The victim, feeling anxiety, is offered a simple solution to the problem: pay a fee and there will be no embarrassing arrest. All the victim must do is purchase green dot cards, or gift cards, at a store and give the scammer the code on the card so the scammer can get the money from the card, and, like magic, the warrant goes away.
But the message is a fraud. Magic is not real. There is no missed jury duty and no warrant. When the victim calms down and realizes what has happened, the money is gone and the scammer is already on to another victim.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call to inform someone they have a warrant. And the BCSO will NEVER offer anyone the chance to pay money by buying gift cards in lieu of arrest. If you receive this or any other scam call, simply hang up.
If you have been victimized, please contact us to report this crime at 850-747-4700. You may feel embarrassed but be assured it is happening every day to many people. We will do what we can to help you. Please pass this information on to someone else. Information is power and only by education can scams be prevented.
