Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) is warning the public that scammers are posing as ASO deputies, using real names, and calling citizens to demand money to avoid arrest.

Click here to watch ASO’s video.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office will never call you over the phone or email you demanding money, gift cards, or Bitcoin as a form of payment. If you ever receive a phone call requesting or demanding money, do not provide any personal information to the caller and immediately hang up.

According to ASO, these scams have become more sophisticated over time and have begun using the names and identities of actual members of the law enforcement community. A law enforcement official will never call you and claim you owe money for something that has gone unpaid, to avoid being arrested on a warrant, or for missing jury duty. No matter how real it may seem or how legitimate the caller or request may sound, you can always hang up and call the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office directly at 352-955-1818.

These scammers can sound very convincing and may try to keep you on the phone until you’ve made the payment, claiming that you will be arrested if you hang up, call law enforcement, or even go to a police station. Again, if you receive one of these calls, you should immediately hang up; if you are uncertain whether the call was valid, you can call 352-955-1818.