Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Economic Crimes Unit

Suspect: Black female, approximately 30 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build

What:
Detectives are encouraging the public to be on alert to a recent phone scam occurring in Pinellas County.

When:
Detectives were first notified of the scam on Friday, October 28, 2016.

Where:
The scam targets elderly residents located in Pinellas County.

Why/How:
Pinellas County detectives are encouraging the public to be on alert to a recent phone scam targeting elderly residents in Pinellas County.

According to detectives, the suspect calls the victim pretending to be a representative of their financial institution and tells the victim they need to exchange their debit card for a new chip card. The caller offers to send a bank representative to the victim’s home to resolve the issue.

The suspect shows up to the victim’s home and exchanges the debit card along with the card’s pin number with the promise that the victim will receive a new chip card in the mail. The suspect immediately uses the victim’s debit card to withdraw money from the victim’s account and purchases gift cards from local retail stores.

According to detectives, three citizens of Pinellas County have been targeted by the phone scam within the last week. The suspect who came to the victims’ home is described as a black female, approximately 30 years old, and 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build.

Deputies advise citizens should never give personal information or account information over the phone unless you are initiating the phone call.  If someone comes to your residence claiming to be from the bank, do not provide them with any personal information or property, such as debit or credit cards.

Citizens are also encouraged to learn more about common scams in Pinellas County and how to avoid them during Fraud Awareness Week. Beginning Monday, November 14, 2016, through Friday, November 18, 2016, various forums and free shred events will be offered at various locations throughout the county (see flyer below for dates, times and locations).

Anyone with information on this scam is asked to call Detective J. Holden at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.

Surveillance video of the suspect can be viewed on the PCSO YouTube page: https://youtu.be/1siPnPizbsE

The investigation continues.