PINELLAS COUNTY – On Saturday, February 27, 2021 the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center started receiving calls from citizens advising of a potential scam.

Unidentified individuals disguised their phone number and called Pinellas County residents attempting to obtain their personal identifying information. The scammers identified themselves as a Deputy Sheriff and when they were questioned by citizens, the scammers hung up. When citizens attempted to call them back they reached the Communications Center. The scammers disguised their phone number as 727-582-6200, the phone number for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies would like to encourage citizens to never give their personal identifying information over the phone and to always ask questions of the person calling.

If you feel you have been a victim of this scam or a similar one, please call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit at 582-6200.