Pasco County, FL – Residents across Pasco County are being urged to stay alert today as the Pasco Sheriff’s Office warns of an uptick in order confirmation scams circulating during the holiday shopping rush. The fraudulent messages often appear to come from well-known retailers and claim a recent purchase needs to be confirmed, creating panic for those who never placed an order.
According to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, victims typically receive a text message, email, or phone call stating they must verify a transaction they did not make. The message directs the person to click a link or contact a number — a tactic used by scammers to steal personal information or install malware on a device.
Officials say these scams have become more common as online shopping activity increases in November and December. The sheriff’s office urged residents to double-check the legitimacy of any unexpected message and avoid clicking links from unknown sources.
To protect yourself, deputies recommend verifying the sender by searching for the retailer’s publicly listed contact information. Residents should also watch for misspellings, generic greetings, and inconsistent branding, which are common red flags. Any suspicious activity should be reported to local authorities.
As holiday deliveries increase, officials stress that residents should take a moment to confirm whether a message is genuine before responding — a small step that could prevent significant financial or personal data loss.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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