Phone scammers pose as law enforcement, try to steal money
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - A new phone scam is going around where the scammers pose as law enforcement to steal money from you.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office says that they recently received reports from citizens regarding telephone scams in which callers represent themselves as members of the Sheriff's Office.
During the call, they say that the scammer will tell the person who answers the phone that they have a warrant for their arrest (one reason that the scammer has given is for missing jury duty) and that to resolve it, they need to obtain a 'green dot' money card.
The scammer then reportedly walks the person through the process and leaves a call-back number, claiming it is a Polk County Sheriff's Office number. If you call it, you receive a recording with instructions.
According to the Sheriff's Office, scammers are even leaving voicemails instructing you to call them.
"This is a new twist on an old scam - this time the scam artists are actually leaving call-back numbers, with recordings claiming to be from official Sheriff's Offices," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Please alert your family members, especially elderly ones who are more prone to being taken advantage of, that we do not call residents asking for money.
The main number to the Polk County Sheriff's Office is 863-298-6200. Law enforcement will never solicit money to rectify warrant. Please call the Sheriff's Office main number to verify the legitimacy of any call you receive and do not send prepaid money cards to strangers.
This story was written in Orlando, Florida.