PANAMA CITY — The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is warning of ongoing warrant scams affecting residents.
These scams aren’t new, but they are getting more sophisticated. When BCSO posted a warning to Facebook, one of the first comments said that they had received a call from a scammer who was able to use “Bay County Sheriff’s Office” as their caller ID.
The release from the BCSO says that callers will impersonate a member of BCSO and may even have personal information about the victim. These details could include information about family members or their place of employment.
The Sheriff’s Office said the scammer will typically tell the victim that they have missed jury duty and that there is a warrant out for their arrest. The scammer might claim that this warrant can be resolved, and they could avoid an embarrassing arrest if the victim simply pays them.
They will typically ask for some form of electronic payment, including the use of bitcoin ATMs or gift cards.
The Sheriff’s Office said in its release that this is a scam. BCSO said it would never call an individual and demand payment to avoid arrest, clear a warrant or resolve a criminal matter.
The agency said those who receive these spam calls should not provide any kind of payment or provide any personal information and should hang up immediately. The release said those who receive the call should contact BCSO directly at 850-747-4700 and ask to speak with the Warrants Division if they have questions about the call’s legitimacy or believe they may have an active warrant.
“The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to discuss these scams with family members, friends and neighbors. Especially older adults who are frequently targeted by fraudsters,” the release said. “Public awareness remains one of the most effective ways to prevent additional victims.”
Readers who have been targeted by the scam or suffered a financial loss as a result should contact BCSO “as soon as possible.”
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County residents are still receiving warrant scam calls
Reporting by Dylan Gentile, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan Gentile, Panama City News Herald | USA TODAY Network
