WE WANT TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY!

Thank you for connecting with us to learn more about common scams. We ask that you share with others what you learn on this page. We believe education is the best defense against being scammed. Scammers will always try to put you in an emotional state and rush you into making a decision. That’s so you aren’t thinking clearly. That’s when you make a decision you wouldn’t normally make. That’s when you get scammed!

FIRST THING TO REMEMBER
If someone tells you to pay with cryptocurrency or gift cards to avoid arrest, a utility shutoff, help a loved one, or to claim a prize IT’S A SCAM. It really is that simple. Just hang up on the caller trying to scam you.
Then call the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 747-4700 immediately.

COMMON SCAMS TO AVOID

• Jury Duty Warrants Scam – Scammer claims you, his intended victim, missed jury duty, there has been a 
warrant issued for you, and to avoid an embarrassing arrest you must pay, usually with bitcoin deposits or
by purchasing gift cards. In this scam, scammers may use the name of an actual employee at the BCSO and
spoof the phone number, making it appear they are actually calling from the BCSO. They are not.
THIS IS A SCAM.
• Utility Shutoff Scam – Scammer informs their victim that they neglected to pay their bill, and now must 
pay by using bitcoin or gift cards. Or they will cut off the victim’s power or water unless paid immediately.
THIS IS A SCAM.
• Lottery/Prize Scam – The scammer informs their intended victim they won a big prize. Then the scammer 
demands the victim must first pay fees or taxes with bitcoin or gift cards to collect their winnings.
THINK did you even enter the lottery or contest? Do not pay fees or taxes by any means to collect winnings.
THIS IS A SCAM.
• Family Emergency Scam – The scammer has stalked you on social media and has learned the names of 
your loved ones. They then call you and pretend to be your loved one, telling you they are in trouble and
need you to send money fast. DO NOT send a loved one money without calling that loved one yourself and
verifying they are indeed in trouble.
IT’S A SCAM.
• Bail Bondsman Scam – Scammers may be unscrupulous, but they are not stupid. They are con artists, and 
they practice all day, every day. In this scam, the scammer will take time to study arrest and release
information online, learning if you have been arrested and posted bond to be let out of jail until your court
date. Then, they will call you, pretending to be your bail bondsman, informing you that you owe more money
to them for being able to post bail. They demand this money immediately or you will be apprehended and
taken back to jail. And, as usual, you will be asked to pay with bitcoin or gift cards.
IT’S A SCAM.

PROTECT YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY
Law enforcement agencies, courts, and government agencies will NEVER demand payments from you to avoid arrest. Utility companies will NEVER require bills to be paid immediately with cryptocurrency or gift cards.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
STOP the transaction immediately.
DO NOT withdraw from your banks accounts to send or deposit in a bitcoin ATM. The truth is once money is sent through a crypto ATM, it is almost impossible to recover. REMEMBER: If someone tells you to pay with cryptocurrency to avoid arrest, a utility shutoff, or to claim a prize, IT’S A SCAM.

CALL your local police department, utility dept, or the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 747-4700. We can verify if what you are dealing with is a scam. If you have already sent money, we will do our best to help you.

 Revised 09/09/2025