Sanford, FL – The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents this week about a phone scam involving fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officers.
According to the sheriff’s office, scammers are calling residents and pretending to be deputies. In many cases, they claim a person has missed jury duty, has an arrest warrant, or that a relative is in custody and needs bail money. The scammers then pressure victims into sending payments over the phone.
Authorities stress that law enforcement will never contact residents to request money. “Some of the scariest scams involve criminals posing as police,” the sheriff’s office said in its alert. “If you’ve received a phone call like this, don’t trust Caller ID. Hang up immediately.”
Officials urge anyone receiving such calls to verify by contacting the sheriff’s non-emergency line at (407) 665-6650. Residents should not provide payment or personal details to unknown callers.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that it will never ask for fines, bail, or fees to be paid over the phone. Deputies advise residents to remain alert and to share this warning with family members who may be more vulnerable to fraud.
