09/25/2024
SCAM!!! They almost got me, wow!! Talk about legitimate sounding!!!
I get a call from a private number stating that I had missed my court date and a bench warrant was out for my arrest for missing Jury Duty on a Fereral Case. I remember sometime in the past, talking to a police officer about something, and it was a "private line", so this seemed like it was legitimate. The "so called officer" had a deep voice that sounded like he represented authority, he sounded as if he was an officer.
I previously moved, and of course faltered, and had not changed to my license to my new address, so this is truly concerning.
He put me on, hold and talked his Lieutenant. He said I could just pay the bench warrant fee, to release the bench warrant and the money will be refunded to me from the court, that day at the police department in Largo.
He told me I would have to go to a bonding company to pay the fee. All sounding legitimate to me. (Damn, I screwed up!!!)
He then stayed on the phone with me, just in case I got pulled over so I could hand the phone to the officer and they would not arrest me. ( Wasn't that nice of him)
So I pulled the $1500 out the bank and ask him what bonding company I'm supposed to go to?
He say "Winne Dixie". I'm like, something's not right here.
I called up my co worker and she could not find the case in the court records. I tell him I am concerned, this might be a scam, I ask him about it and he offers to send me an email with the documentation and will have Sara Johnson call me from the Sheriff's department. I then receive a phone call from Sara Johnson at from " Pinellas County Sheriff's department", and it even has the name " Pinellas County sheriff's department" spoofed on my phone as the incoming call!!! She verifies that the call is from the sheriff's department, and this is legitimate.
The Winne Dixie thing still has alarm bells going off. I then google "scam Jury Duty Florida". Ok crap, I am in a scam, M****** Efer!!
So, I call the sheriff's department, and before they can get on the line, Proof he's gone, and I guess so is my bench warrant, LOL
Be warned, these guys (and gal), were really, really good and convincing. Scumbags!!
