CRIME BLOTTER
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about another telephone scam. Image
courtesy of Stock.xchng
SHERIFF'S OFFICE WARNING THE PUBLIC ABOUT A TELEPHONE SCAM
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is warning people about a telephone scam that
attempts to extort money from innocent individuals whom the caller claims are wanted by
law enforcement officials.
does not collect fine amounts; all money is
paid to the Clerk of Court; and wanted individuals would never be asked to meet with a
deputy to exchange funds, the release notes.
"As legitimate as some of these phone scams
may sound, the callers are criminals who
want to separate citizens from their hardearned money," said Sheriff Tom Knight in
the release. "In every case, just hang up, think
about what was said and then report the call."
The office recently has received two reports
of a caller claiming to be with the Sheriff's
Office Warrants Division who tells the victim
he is wanted but the matter can be cleared
up if the victim loads the amount of the fine
onto a "green dot card" and provides it to the
caller, a news release says.
Anyone who may have been the victim of this
Neither person complied with the caller; both or a similar scam should contact the Sarasota
reported it to law enforcement representa- County Sheriff's Office non-emergency number, 316-1201.
tives, the release adds.
"It is important to note that the majority of
warrants cannot be satisfied without appearing in person at either the jail or in court,"
the release points out. The Warrants Division
For more information about scams and fraud
visit the Federal Trade Commission website or click here: www.consumer.ftc.gov/
articles/0076-telemarketing-scams.
