Phone Scams. Email Scams. Boca Raton. Delray Beach. Boynton Beach.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The scams continue in Palm Beach County Sunday, and now the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to think twice before following instructions in emails or on phone calls that seek money in any form.
According to PBSO, Palm Beach County residents are receiving emails from various companies — some that appear to be local — seeking payment for items or services that were never purchased or rendered. These are likely scams and should be ignored. The best advice: call the merchant and ask for clarification.
Another scam that continues: the arrest scam. Callers claiming to be a law enforcement officer, a Jail intake officer, or even a family member using voices generated by artificial intelligence. The caller says that a loved one has been arrested and that money must be provided immediately so the loved one can be released. The payment is often supposed to be made via gift card, bitcoin, Western Union transfer, or other untraceable system. Police will never call to seek payment over the phone.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office says anyone receiving calls or emails like the one described above should ignore them and — if you believe it is appropriate — call 911 or the non-emergency number for PBSO which is 561-688-3400.
Whenever possible, payments for pretty much anything should be made by credit cards that have dispute features. If you were scammed, American Express, Discover, Visa, and Mastercard have robust investigative teams that will likely free the payment while the charge is researched. Never use gift cards or crypto currency as payment.
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