Scammer Calling Pinellas Residents Pretending To Be Sheriff's Employee

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is encouraging the public to be on alert to recent phone scams occurring in Pinellas County.

People are calling residents in Pinellas County and identifying themselves as Pinellas County Sheriff's Office employees.

According to deputies, a man called a business and identified himself as"Capt. Melvin Jackson." After identifying himself as a fictitious Pinellas County Sheriff's Office employee, the man told the resident that there are warrants for the resident's arrest and the resident needed to pay a monetary fine with a phone or prepaid card.

The man called from 408-780-1944 and 727-582-6200. There have been multiple incidents recently where Pinellas County residents have been targeted using this scam.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said the sheriff's office will never call residents requesting money over the telephone, and will never ask for banking information to wire money. The sheriff's office advises residents not to give personal information or account information over the phone and to call the sheriff's office to report suspicious activity.

If anyone has information on this scam or has been a victim, call the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at 727-582-6200.