A familiar scam is once again plaguing the Florida Keys and this time the thieves are falsely claiming to be Sheriff Rick Ramsay.
The Sheriff’s Office has been notified that residents may be receiving an email from someone falsely claiming to be Sheriff Rick Ramsay in which they urge the email receiver to buy gift cards. The thief has created a fake email account in the Sheriff’s name on Gmail, but he/she/they may use other email service providers. The fake email states Sheriff Rick Ramsay is a bind and he’ll quickly reimburse the email receiver once he returns to the office. The thief may ask for three $100 gift cards or more. The thief asks the email receiver to take pictures of the gift cards and email the thief the pictures. The request for gift cards is an easy to tell YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED! Sheriff Rick Ramsay would never ask for gift cards or communicate via email in such ways!
To all residents of Monroe County: If you receive such an email from someone purporting to be Sheriff Rick Ramsay — DELETE THE EMAIL! Please help us spread the word!
Scammers have been masquerading as law enforcement officials in recent years. This is not the first time these thieves have impersonated Sheriff Rick Ramsay. BE WEARY! BE ALERT!
NEVER BUY GIFT CARDS FOR SOMEONE OVER THE PHONE! ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK WITH ACTUAL BUSINESSES, POLICE, UTILTIES, INSURERS — ANYONE — WHEN SENDING MONEY, PARICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE REACHED BY PHONE!
Anyone with information about any crimes should contact the Sheriff's Office at 305-292-7000. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-471-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous and if a tip leads to an arrest in the case, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips may also be submitted online at www.floridakeyscrimestoppers.comor via a text message using the smartphone app called P3 Phone. Tips can also be submitted via social media such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the @CrimeStoppers305 hashtag.