PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public about a phone scam targeting families of inmates.
The scammer, who identifies himself as “Captain Brian Browne,” contacts individuals and falsely claims that he can arrange the release of their family members from jail and secure them a spot in a treatment program at Turning Point in exchange for money.
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The suspect provides a callback number of 727-314-3420 to facilitate the fraudulent transaction. Similar scams have also been reported to the Clearwater Police Department.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that they will never solicit money or banking information over the phone. They advise citizens to be vigilant and avoid sharing personal or financial information over the phone.
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Anyone with information about this scam or who believes they may have been a victim is asked to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.
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