The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement, spoof caller ID, and pressure victims into paying for fake warrants or missed jury duty. In a recent case, 24-year-old Madeleine Wessel was transferred between people claiming to be sheriff’s office employees and a deputy, kept on the line, and directed to withdraw cash at a gas station ATM. A business owner at the station recognized the warning signs and intervened. He told deputies he sees similar situations nearly every week.
Investigators describe a well-worn script: claims of a missed jury duty notice, an active warrant, or a family member in trouble. Then come the demands to stay on the phone, and instructions to pay with cash, gift cards, or wire transfers. The sheriff’s office says it will never call to collect or ask for money, and its personnel will never demand payment by gift card or wire transfer.
If you suspect a scam, report it to the HCSO non-emergency line at 813-247-8200. The safest habit is simple: hang up and call the agency back at a number you look up yourself. Have you talked to your family about this script yet?
