PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be vigilant about recent phone scams in which individuals are posing as Sheriff’s Office personnel to defraud citizens.
According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are calling Pinellas County residents and identifying themselves as “Deputy Justin Blake” or “Captain Keith Bridges.” The callers falsely claim that victims have an outstanding warrant for missing jury duty and demand a large sum of money to resolve the issue.
READ: Pinellas Park Gears Up For 33rd Annual Country In The Park With ‘The Marshall Tucker Band’
While the scammers are using various phone numbers, some victims have reported that the calls appear to be coming from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office main line: (727) 582-6200. This tactic, known as “spoofing,” can make the calls appear legitimate.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that it will never call, text, or email citizens to request money over the phone and will never ask for banking information to wire money.
READ: Wrong Car, Deadly Consequences: St. Petersburg Driver Now Charged With Murder
The Sheriff’s Office advises residents to:
- Never give personal or account information over the phone to unsolicited callers.
- Report any suspicious activity to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about this scam or who believes they have been a victim is asked to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
