Pinellas County families with loved ones behind bars, be wary. A new scam has surfaced, exploiting the vulnerability of concerned relatives hoping to see their incarcerated family members freed. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has issued a stark warning about con artists who pose as law enforcement officers to swindle money through digital platforms.
According to a recent social media post by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, scammers are calling families, introducing themselves as “Sergeant Matthews” or “Sergeant Rudolph.” They claim to offer a path for inmates' release upon a payment via Cash App or deposit into a cryptocurrency ATM. To add a sheen of legitimacy, victims are instructed to head to official buildings such as the Sheriff’s Office Administration Building on Ulmerton Road, or the Criminal Justice Center on 49th Avenue North — that is, until they receive a hasty call to detour.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has been emphatic in asserting they "will NEVER call citizens requesting money over the telephone," and banking details for wire transfers are definitely off the table. The authority's message to residents: guard your personal and banking information as if it were gold because, to these tricksters, it is. For anyone ensnared by this ruse or who harbors tips about the perpetrators, the direct line to justice is (727) 582-6200.
The community ought to be keenly aware of this deceitful ploy. While the notion of law enforcement offering a release for cash might sound like a lifeline, it's a trap. The official stance is crystal, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office does not engage in these kinds of monetary solicitations. They urge, if you encounter such dubious demands to reach out and report these suspicious activities immediately.
