Scam Calls Impersonating Seminole County Deputies Threaten Arrests, Demand Payment

A Central Florida woman who identified herself only as "Marlene" says she nearly fell for a phone scam after a caller claiming to be a Seminole County sheriff’s deputy told her she had missed a court appearance and that a warrant had been issued. The caller linked the alleged warrant to a 2020 business loan from the COVID period, said she was being tracked, ordered her not to hang up, and insisted she pay immediately via Cash App to resolve the matter; Marlene filed a report with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

Similar calls have been reported across jurisdictions that share the Seminole County name. Law enforcement warnings in Seminole County, Florida, and a separate Seminole County in Georgia describe callers spoofing sheriff’s office numbers, sometimes using names of real deputies, to claim missed jury duty, outstanding warrants, relatives arrested who need bail, or other alleged debts. Scammers demand immediate payment through Cash App, Venmo, gift cards, wire transfers, or other electronic-transfer services, and warn victims they face arrest if they do not comply.

In a Jan. 28 post on the Winter Springs/Oviedo community page, resident Daniel Pratt wrote: "BEWARE!!! I had a very convincing scammer call yesterday claiming to be the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. They claimed dodging jury duty. Spoke very official and used the names of real Seminole County Sheriff Deputies. Red flags went up when they wanted me to pay a portion of the fines through Cash App. I told them I was calling three Sheriff's Office to verify and they got rude and threatened I would have a warrant and would be detained. Sheriff's office verified it was a scam. Again it was all very convincing up until Cash App was brought up."

Local sheriff’s offices are clear about payment rules and verification. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said, "Law enforcement will never contact you asking for payment. If people receive such calls or texts, they should hang up or delete the message." The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia said the agency will never call and demand money, does not accept bond payments through Cash App, Venmo, gift cards, wire transfers, or similar services, and will never threaten arrest over the phone.

Officials advise anyone who receives an unsolicited call alleging a warrant, missed court date, or a relative in custody not to send money, to hang up or delete the message, and to verify by calling the sheriff’s office using the phone number listed on the agency’s official website or by visiting in person. Residents who receive these calls are urged to report them immediately so law enforcement can track patterns and warn others.