Businesses Receive Phony Calls To Collect Bond

If your business or restaurant received a call from a man claiming to be an officer trying to collect bond, it's a scam.

The said they received complaints where a suspect called local restaurants claiming to be a police officer reporting that another manager was under arrest.

The caller claimed that he needed to set up a meeting place to receive bond money so the manager in custody could be released from jail.

To be clear, it is not a law enforcement practice to contact someone on behalf of an arrestee to arrange bond, according to the sheriff's office. In addition, bond would only be arranged at the jail or with a licensed bail agent at their office, according to the sheriff's office.

Under Florida law, the person or persons perpetrating this crime can be charged with Falsely Personating an Officer, a third degree felony or more, depending on the circumstances of the crime.

Anyone with information about this or similar crimes is encouraged to call Criminal Investigations at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com or via text message by texting TIP109 plus a message to CRIMES (274637).