FLORIDA KEYS — Key West Police and other agencies are warning the community to be wary of a recurring scam in which a caller is identifying himself as a law enforcement officer and directing residents to pay alleged court costs or fines.
On Nov. 30, a person was contacted several times by a man identifying himself as a deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, according to a press release. The caller told the resident she owed several thousand dollars in court costs, and told her the only way to settle was to purchase Money Pak cards.
In years past, other versions of this scam have been perpetrated locally. No law enforcement officer will ever call someone and solicit money — ever.
Law enforcement officers will never call and insist on payment to avoid arrest, reports say. Never give out critical personal information over the phone. And if someone insists you wire or transfer money, always check to find out if the caller is legitimate.
Scammers often use personal information to convince victims they are legitimate as they often have phone numbers, names and addresses of relatives. They use high pressure tactics and if they are on the phone with you they will try to keep you on the phone until the scam is complete.
Many scams incorporate some type of cash cards, because that is a quick way to send and receive cash and once they have the card number, the money is theirs and is virtually untraceable.
Residents are urged to hang up and call Key West police at 305-809-1000.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.