Local law enforcement agencies warn of scammers who claim to be real officers/deputies

Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Alachua Police Department are warning of recent scams in which callers claimed to be real officers or deputies and asked for money.

Alachua Police Department

Alachua Police Department reported that a caller claiming to be “Sergeant Young” (a real APD Sergeant) told a citizen that they had missed jury duty and could pay a fee to avoid being arrested. APD said that real police officers never call to demand money. If you receive a call like this, you should hang up immediately and report it to your local law enforcement agency; do not send money or share personal information.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office

Yesterday, deputies made contact with a community member who reported losing $2,100 after sending money to an individual falsely claiming to be an employee of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the report, the caller told the victim that their incarcerated family member could be released from jail if a bond was paid through a digital payment service. The caller also provided details about a supposed probation officer, a Jail Diversion Program, and community service requirements the loved one would need to complete after payment was made.

We want to be clear; it is not standard practice for law enforcement to provide information about probation eligibility or diversion programs in this manner.

It’s also important to understand that certain arrest information is public and accessible online, including names, dates of birth, and home addresses. Scammers may use this information to make their claims appear credible and to create pressure during already stressful situations.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and law enforcement agencies in general, will never call and demand payment over the phone under any circumstance. Scammers can manipulate caller ID to make it appear as though the call is coming from our agency, and they may even provide a fake badge number. These tactics are designed to build trust, but they are not indicators of legitimacy.

These scams are intended to create a sense of urgency and fear, making it harder to pause and verify the information. If you receive a call like this, we encourage you to hang up. If the individual continues to call or text, you do not need to engage.

Instead, contact our office directly using a trusted number. You can reach our non-emergency line at 352-955-1818, option 5. You will never be penalized for calling to verify information, and our team can quickly confirm whether a situation is legitimate.