BCSO Scam Alert

Bay County Sheriff, Tommy Ford, issued a Scam Alert today after several complaints were received about a new variation of an old scam.

In this scam, the scammer makes contact by phone, identifying himself as an officer of a federal agency. The scammer informs the intended victim they have been identified as a suspect because a package has been intercepted in the mail addressed to them that contains items of contraband. The victim is told they are going to be arrested on charges of Trafficking in Narcotics and Money Laundering but can avoid an embarrassing arrest by paying the agent a specified amount of money. The scammer instructs the victim to wire money or purchase gold, and the scammer will come to their home and pick it up.

Please DO NOT send money over the phone, whether by cash app, gift card, bitcoin, or wire service. You can be confident that any law enforcement agency, local or federal, will NEVER notify you ahead of time you are going to be arrested unless you send money or allow the officer to come pick-up gold coins or bars. Never.

If you have been victimized by a scam artist, please reach out to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. We have investigators that are dedicated specifically to investigating these kinds of crimes and will do their best to help you. Call us at 850-747-4700.