Warning DNA scam
From a Member:
Hello,
This is xxxxxxxx in Leon County. I just wanted to let you know that last week I was the target of yet another scam of those of us on the registry. A “sheriff’s deputy” called and said I needed to give a new DNA sample. An audit had been done by the federal government and my previously given sample was missing. I had to report right away to take care of this. I hung up and called the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. They said I was the 4th person to call about this scam in the last few days. I never listened to the scammers long enough to hear what they were eventually going to demand, but I imagine a fee would have been in there somewhere.
Just wanted to let you know
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I had the exact same call. I kept him on the line for a while, as I texted someone to call the Sheriff’s office and verify. He wanted me to come to the office and bond out at the clerk’s kiosk. Because it was after hours, I had to purchase “vouchers” to put into the kiosk when I got there (at WalMart, Kroger, etc.) He also sent me a link to a website where I had to enter five copies of my signature for a “handwriting analysis” (I gave him a fake email address then pretended I was having trouble accessing the link.) Since I had internet problems, I could read him the “voucher numbers” over the phone so he could verify them and save me from being placed in custody if the kiosk wouldn’t accept them. With the numbers (PD said they normally ask for “green dot” cards, which I’m not familiar with) and my signature and all the info from the registry, I’m sure they could have gotten off with the $1500 “bond” they were asking for… When I couldn’t string him along any further, I told him that I’d been texting my brother, a federal law enforcement officer, through the entire call. He hung up on me.
This happened to me today 10/18 at 1245 pm but they said a letter had been sent and asked if I had received it.one they said they were on the rso unit and Brevard has sort unit not to mention not working weekends and the lt wasnt. Beranger ,helps when you know them ,I hung up also ill call Monday to report when they are open
I always ask for a badge number when I get these scam calls. Then go to the sheriff’s office and file a report. Get the phone number. The last guy was stupid enough to leave a message. That’s impersonating an officer and it’s too bad we individuals neither have the money for an attorney, which we could hire to help press charges more effectively, nor the power of introducing a bill to make this activity more punishable, such as with the state’s favorite tool: the third degree felony. Just sayin’.
Only a state attorney can press charges. You cannot hire an attorney to press charges.
I was an attempted victim of this scam several months ago.
I received a call from a “Detective” in the Pasco County Sheriffs office claiming the FDLE was needing me to give an updated DNA sample.
I told the “Detective” I wanted to call him back at the sheriff’s department directly. He gave me his name and I called the sheriff’s department directly. I called the real detective, leaving a couple detailed messages about why I was calling.
I never heard back from any of them…the real or fake detective.
I am not sure what their end game was going to be, but I will tell you the fake detective was incredibly convincing on the phone.
My advisement is to politely ask for their name and tell them you will call them back directly to the department they are supposedly calling from. Because things change so rapidly with our registration requirements, it is not impossible that one day we may get a legitimate call about something; that’s why I am professional until I know for sure it is a scam.
Thanks for the heads up 👍
In an effort to show the system how the registry is being used to repeatedly attempt to extort money from registered citizens, WE the affected persons must force law enforcement to come to our homes and file a police report. Smarter people than me might know what should be included on the police report or how the police reports should be forwarded to FDLE. Any ideas?
You were wise to hang up and call the Sheriff department directly. This was EXACTLY what you were supposed to do.
However, I would file up with a criminal complaint against the unidentified scammer. If enough people complain, perhaps something can be done.
nothing will be done as your a sex offender and no one wants to be seen protecting the rights if any of any sex offender or that will be the end of their political career
disagree
prove me wrong! would love to see elected politicians in Florida stick up and protect rso’s in Florida
Elected politicians passed laws against the impersonation of an officer, the misuse of the registry, and, of course, fraud.
More recently, they allowed a bad RSO lodging bill to die in committee.
You may be a sex offender. But only a very tiny percentage of the people who are listed on the $EX Offender Registries are. Those people are just Registered People and nothing more. Certainly not sex offenders.