FAC Weekly Update 2025-04-07-Scammer Caught and Proposed Employer Bill
Recording #303. Dear Members and Advocates,
As a member of an organization that advocates for second chances, I found myself conflicted this week when adding this post to our forum (about the “Man Who Scammed Registrants was Caught”).
For years, we’ve received reports about a widespread scam targeting individuals on the registry, where scammers impersonate law enforcement and claim the registrant has violated a requirement (such as failing to sign paperwork or give a DNA sample). The scammer then demands immediate payment—usually in the form of prepaid gift cards or cryptocurrency—to “avoid arrest.”
On one hand, as a member of the class of targeted victims, I want to see this scammer buried under the jail. Let his name, picture and all his personal information be posted on the internet to warn others. He should never be allowed to use the internet to seek out victims, and of course he should be prohibited from using the phone. On the other hand… Well you can see where this is going.
Walking in the shoes of a victim can give us a different perspective about this situation. I want the perpetrator prosecuted for his crime. He deserves that. Similarly, perpetrators of sexual crimes should also be prosecuted and punished for their crimes. FAC has never argued otherwise. But then what? What happens after the person is punished? Do I want more punishment for scammers or do I want fewer of my FAC brothers and sisters be victimized?
When I read that the police finally caught one of these scammers, candidly I was surprised. This crime has been going on for so many years without any investigation, I figured law enforcement didn’t care. People saw it as just another collateral consequence of our status as registrants – probably even thinking we brought it upon ourselves. The common response has always been, “well you shouldn’t have done…”. Maybe, as suggested in last week’s update, this is another sign of the pendulum swinging in the other direction.
A solution always seemed simple. As registrants we have to re-register at the sheriffs office at least twice yearly. Why couldn’t they hand out warning fliers at registration? Wouldn’t it be so simple to notify everyone coming in to register about the scam? To let them know law enforcement will never demand money over the phone. And to never give out personal or financial information to unsolicited callers, even if they claim to be police? But they don’t.
Wouldn’t focusing on prevention, education and vigilance help prevent this crime? If this message sounds familiar, it’s the same message that applies to sexual abuse. If law enforcement spent half the resources they spent on this useless punishment list actually focusing on prevention, there would be far fewer victims. That’s what society should want.
I was more excited to read about the arrest of the scammer because it forced law enforcement to acknowledge that there are people out there who use the registry as a target list. For scams, or as we have also unfortunately seen, for violence and murder. A sure way to prevent this would be to take down the list.
Because society views people on the registry as unsympathetic victims, it has been easy for this hit list to exist. However, something is happening this year in the Florida legislature that might change that. This year, the legislature is advancing a bill that would greatly expand the required employment information collected during registration and made available to the public.
We’ve already seen how public disclosure of registrants’ data can lead to harassment, extortion, and even violence. With this new requirement, businesses themselves could become targets.
There is a real risk that this information could be used to intimidate businesses into firing registrants, shame companies for offering second chances, or even extort them under the threat of “outing” their business.
This proposed bill is a dangerous step backward. Instead of helping people reintegrate, it further stigmatizes and isolates registrants, while now putting employers in the crosshairs.
We urge our members to reach out to your state legislators and express your opposition to this bill. Ask them whether they only want more prosecutions and punishment, or do they want fewer victims in the first place?
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
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It is funny you speak of the work conditions. If on probation, you are required to hold a job and most places now do not want registered offender as employees. So if you cannot find a job, you might get violated for not complying with the work requirement. Doubled edged sword.
Hell, what is next, having to tell our pastor we are registered sex offenders, then the pastor being forced to tell the congregation. I can just see all the God loving people embracing us, NOT. A few might but who would even want to visit again after everyone thinks you are a perverted sinner.
Pretty soon we won’t be able to leave the house and be a prisoner in our own home. All of our information will be available to others and wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to post our social security numbers, where we bank, and more. Eventually someone is going to snap and we are all going to pay for it.
Lest us not forget the “FAKE” attorney that was targeting a lot of us and many people sent him money, and the so called lawyer guaranteed he could get each of us off the registry. Many fell for it and I got one of the letters in the mail and when I did, I immediately contacted FAC and they verified it was a scam and many had already been taken.
No news over the years about that guy going to jail.
And yes, I was contacted as were my parents, by a fake deputy trying to say I did not register. I hung up on him and he called my parents. Neither of us fell for it and I made a police report but am sure the sheriff’s office placed my report in the “We don’t give a shit” box because I never got a single follow up. I supplied the phone # they called from (Probably a fake #) but no matter how much information I gave, all I got was a reply stating my report was accepted and never got a follow up to this day.
So I see this bill is ordered enrolled which usually means that it will become law. So what does this mean for us. Is our workplace information going to be made public
I recorder the scam 5 times and took it to the local police department never heard about the results again.
The Sheriff’s Office now post about the scams and the gift cards scams
FDLE has every ones email and phone number they could of sent email and/or text to the same after i would think they would be proactive about preventing crime and not just waiting till crime happens to keep jails, lawyers, police, courts, probation busy, wow thats a lot of people staying busy for a crime. now it makes me think it’s all about keeping these people that should serve and protect just making sure they have employment at tax payers expense