In a bid to educate the public on avoiding the pitfalls of modern scams, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office has released the fourth installment of their SJSO Unlocked podcast series. According to an announcement by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office on X, Episode 4 features Economic Crimes Unit Detectives Bobby Fultz and David Elliott, alongside Public Information Officer Taylor Levesque, discussing an array of schemes designed to defraud unsuspecting victims.
"If it’s too good to be true, it probably is," the detectives warn listeners, a piece of age-old wisdom that bears repeating in the digital age. Fultz and Elliott highlight how, aided by technological advancements, scammers have not only grown more prevalent but also more creative. The team delves into economic scams, inmate and bail bond ruses, and the evolving landscape of job, real estate, investment, and computer pop-up scams, as they try to equip the public to better protect themselves, as per the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Importantly, the podcast serves as a reminder that the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office will "never call and ask you for money, never ask you to provide personal identifying information over the phone, or reach out to you about an inmate." This warning underscores the critical need for vigilance when receiving unsolicited communications that appear to originate from law enforcement or other official sources.
Citizens are urged to verify questionable calls with the SJSO non-emergency line; the podcast provides the number as (904) 824-8304, a resource to possibly use before giving away personal information. Maintaining skepticism towards unsolicited requests for money or personal data remains a key layer of defense against the rising tide of scams. If doubts persist, or someone believes they may be a victim, the Sheriff's office advises to promptly call SJSO.
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— St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (@TeamSJSO) April 1, 2025
On Episode 4 of SJSO Unlocked, Economic Crimes Unit Detectives Bobby Fultz and David Elliott join Public Information Officer Taylor Levesque for a discussion about scams.
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Listeners can access the podcast episode on multiple platforms including Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio, with the episode also available for visual consumption on YouTube. For those interested in engaging further with the Sheriff's Office, the SJSO welcomes questions for Sheriff Hardwick, his personnel, or topic suggestions to the podcast email at [email protected]. The community's support and vigilance are hailed as vital in the ongoing battle against scams, echoed by the hashtag #teamsjso.
