A Lee County woman said she was shaken after receiving a disturbing scam message that included violent threats and graphic images.
Ursula Weinkauff was spending the evening with her family on Thursday night when her phone began ringing nonstop from an unknown number.
A friend answered one of the calls but was met with silence. Moments later, a terrifying message came through.
The sender, identifying himself as “Tony Gonzalez,” demanded money and included the names of Weinkauff, her husband, and her children.
“It accused us of owing money for services we never used and then threatened to harm us,” Weinkauff said.
The situation escalated when she received graphic photos of people covered in blood.
“That really took it to another level,” she said. “I called the sheriff’s department immediately.”
Lee County deputies told her it was a known scam and advised her to block the number. She did exactly that, but the experience left her shaken and unable to sleep.
“I’ve seen scam messages before, but nothing like this,” she said.
Data recovery expert Ray Leventhal says the tactic is a form of attempted extortion designed to cause panic.
“Scammers use fear to pressure victims,” he said. “With so much personal info online, it’s easy for them to make the threats feel real.”
Law enforcement urges anyone who receives similar messages to block the number, save the message as evidence, report the incident, and never send money or share personal information.
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