Increase In Phone Scams Prompts Warning, Safety Tips By Pasco Sheriff

PASCO COUNTY, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has recently experienced an increase in phone scams and is warning the public to be wary of signs of someone posing as a law enforcement officer.

In this scam, a caller poses as a Pasco sheriff's employee, using an agency member's name and demanding payment over the phone for fees for a violation such as a speeding ticket, running a red light or parking illegally.

Often, the caller uses the victim's personal information, which can be gathered from public record searches, to sound more legitimate.

The caller tells the victim that if she or he does not pay, an arrest warrant will be issued. The caller insists that the victim pay with gift cards, wire transfers, credit cards or through money-sharing apps, such as Paypal.

According to the sheriff's office, sheriff's personnel will never discuss warrants over the phone or request payment using these methods.

The sheriff warns residents to:

• Beware of requests for unusual payment methods, such as using gift cards to pay for government-related fines or services.
• Never provide or verify personal information with the caller.
• Never feel pressured to act due to the urgency of the caller.
• End suspicious phone calls immediately and report them.