Phone Scammers Posing as Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Deputy (26-023)

PINELLAS COUNTY—The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging the public to be on alert for a recent phone call scam.

The suspects are calling residents of Pinellas County and claiming to be Assistant Chief Deputy Paul Carey. The scammer tells the victim that they have either a warrant for their arrest or a citation that needs to be paid.

Victims also reported the scammer left a voicemail requesting the citizen return the call, leaving a telephone number that is not associated with the Sheriff’s Office.

PLEASE NOTE: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call, text, or email citizens requesting money over the telephone and will never ask for banking information to wire money. We advise citizens not to give personal information or account information over the phone and call the Sheriff’s Office to report suspicious activity. 

If anyone has information on this scam or has become a victim, they are asked to call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.