The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has seen a rise in warrant scams recently, and has issued a warning to make the public aware of this increasing crime.
Here’s how the scam works, according to PSO: A caller poses as a representative of the PSO, using an agency member’s name and demanding payment over the phone.
Often, the caller may use a victim’s personal information that can be gathered from public record searches, according to a PSO news posting.
The caller states that if victims do not pay, an arrest warrant will be issued. The caller insists for payment with gift cards, wire transfers, credit cards or through money sharing apps, the PSO alert says.
The PSO wants the public to know: These calls are not legitimate, as PSO will never discuss warrants over the phone or request payment with these methods to clear them.
Here are some tips from the PSO to help citizens protect themselves from warrant scams and other potential scams:
- Be leery of requests for unusual payment methods, such as using gift cards to pay for government business.
- Do not provide or verify personal information with the caller.
- Do not feel pressure to act due to the urgency of the caller.
- End suspicious phone calls immediately.
- If you receive a warrant scam call, immediately report it to local law enforcement
The PSO also wants you to know that scammers:
- Often pretend to be from an organization you know
- Claim there’s a problem or a prize
- Pressure you to take immediate action
- Demand you pay in a specific way
Here are some suggestions from the PSO to help you avoid scams:
- Block unwanted calls and text messages.
- Don’t give personal or financial information in response to a request you didn’t expect.
- Don’t pay someone who insists you pay with a gift car or use a money transfer service.
Published February 01, 2023
