IMPORTANT FRAUD ALERT FROM THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents and visitors to be aware of a current phone scam involving criminals posing as Lee County Sheriff’s Office staff members.

Using a technique known as “spoofing,” scammers utilize existing technology to transmit false caller ID numbers to your phone display.  In this particular case, calls appear to be coming from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number (239-477-1000) and scammers are claiming that recipients of the phone call have outstanding warrants or subpoenas and are facing criminal charges.

The scammers are telling the victims that they must purchase gift cards and read the gift card numbers to the scammers in order to avoid being arrested.

Please be advised that the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER contact you requesting money/payment for any reason.

Should you receive such a call from 239-477-1000, or from any number where an individual is posing as a law enforcement officer requesting money/gift cards/payment, please hang up and contact the LCSO Fraud Unit at 239-258-3292.