Another phone scam reported

 The ongoing plague of phone scams involving gift cards in the Florida Keys continues as another was reported to the Sheriff’s Office this week.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate these scams, but the thieves are difficult to catch as many operate overseas. With that in mind Sheriff Rick Ramsay continues to spread the word about these scams in the hopes that not one more Florida Keys resident falls victim to these criminals. These cases come on the heels of reports that scammers are posing as legitimate local law enforcement officers and using real police station phone numbers. In those scams, the thieves always falsely tell residents they either missed jury duty or have a warrant for their arrest or some other fake story. In all these scams, residents are told to buy prepaid gift cards and to give the numbers over the phone. They are falsely told that if they pay the scammers using the prepaid gift cards their made-up legal troubles would be over.

In the instant case, a Key Largo man told Deputy Kyle Page on Wednesday that a man falsely claiming to be his son falsely told him he was sick and in jail. The caller said his voice was different due to the illness. The caller told the victim that he must purchase two Best Buy® gift cards, each worth $500, in order to get out of jail. The caller told the victim that once he purchased the cards to call a different number and provide the numbers assigned to the gift cards.

The victim said a different man then called him and said if he wanted his son released sooner he’d have to buy another $500 gift card. The victim tried to purchase a third gift card, but his bank declined the transaction. The victim then called a friend who tracked the two previously purchased cards to a Best Buy® in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where they were used. The victim tried to call the second caller back, but the number was changed to a private number. The victim then called his son and realized his son had never been in jail. The victim then called the Sheriff’s Office to report the crime.

In several other cases reported to the Sheriff’s Office , thieves have posed as Sheriff Ramsay and other real law enforcement officers in the Keys. In at least one case, thieves used the number for the Sheriff’s Office substation at 50 High Point Road, Tavernier.

• The Sheriff’s Office reminds all residents: NEVER PAY FOR ANYTHING OVER THE PHONE USING PREPAID GIFT CARDS!

• If you receive such a call: HANG UP! Contact the organization or person the caller claims to be representing and report the incident to local law enforcement.