Authorities in South Florida are sounding the alarm over a slew of scams targeting residents by exploiting the criminal justice system’s processes. In St. Lucie County, residents are being warned about fraudulent pretrial release programs. Scammers, reportedly, have contacted victims pretending they were selected for a pretrial program, as noted by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. These fraudsters instruct individuals to pay for services like ankle monitors and program enrollment via dubious means.
The deceit does not end there, victims are directed to send payments through apps like Zelle and Cash App, or even through gift cards, which is a method favored by swindlers due to the difficulty in traceability. According to deputies with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, official communication would never solicit such payments, using these platforms. Instead, residents are urged to engage only with verified government communications and to verify court information through legitimate channels, such as the Clerk of Court or directly with the Sheriff’s Office. Information regarding this scheme was released in advisements by CBS12.
Meanwhile, in Broward County, the Broward Sheriff’s Office is cautioning the public about a similar ruse. This time, perpetrators pose as law enforcement officials or pre-trial specialists, reaching out to relatives of recent arrestees. They demand money for the release of their family members, leveraging pressure, and urgency to provoke hasty action. The Sheriff’s Office has stated, “BSO says it will never request payment over the phone, so callers demanding money or information should be treated as fraudsters.” Residents are advised to immediately hang up on such calls and report them after verifying the arrest through official BSO channels. These incidents have been documented through an alert on Instagram…