Families across Hillsborough County are getting terrifying calls from crooks who claim to be sheriff’s deputies and insist a loved one will not get out of jail unless money changes hands right away. The scammers are reportedly pressing relatives to pay immediately by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency, and threatening extra legal trouble if they refuse to play along.
Deputies say the move is simple: hang up, do not hand over cash or personal details, and then report the call to the Sheriff’s Office non‑emergency line at 813‑247‑8200. The warning landed Saturday as consumer‑protection groups and county officials hold workshops around the Tampa Bay area aimed at stopping similar impostor schemes before more residents lose money.
⚠️SCAM ALERT: Targeting Families of Inmates⚠️#teamHCSO has recently received reports of scammers contacting family members of individuals in our jail, pretending to be with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.The callers are demanding payment over the phone and claiming… pic.twitter.com/90Of4cmEOD
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) March 7, 2026
What the sheriff’s office says
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says scammers are dialing up loved ones of inmates and pretending to speak with the authority of a badge, even though real deputies “will never call and demand payment or request gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or sensitive financial information.”…