Watch out: Scammers are posing as the Collier County Sheriff's Office

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

The Collier County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about a scam aimed at obtaining your personal information by contacting a phone number posing as the agency.

According to CCSO, fraudsters will leave a voicemail for the intended victim to contact a specific person at the sheriff's office. If the victim calls the number left by the scammer, they will be connected with a recorded phone menu providing options for various agency departments.

Deputies said the goal of the scheme is to engage the victim and get personal information. The sheriff's office also advised of other schemes, claiming that you have an arrest warrant, you failed to report for jury duty, are in contempt of court or failed to pay a traffic citation.

The sheriff's office also received reports that scammers are contacting people via text message and advised that no matter how the messages are received, they are scams.

The sheriff's office noted that if you receive a voicemail, look up the organization's number and call it to verify the information that you received. You can call CCSO's Call Before You Pay hotline at (239)252-CALL(2255). The hotline is open Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is staffed by a deputy in the Financial Crimes Bureau.

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