Scammer poses as detective and demands residents pay him 'fines'

The FCSO will never request that a fee be paid in order to avoid arrest. If this ever occurs, it is a scam.


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  • | 1:31 p.m. July 20, 2020
Stock photo by Karolina Grabowska/www.pexels.com
Stock photo by Karolina Grabowska/www.pexels.com
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The Flagler County Sheriff's Office is warning residents that a scammer is posing as an FCSO detective and demanding that people pay him a "fine" or face arrest.

The FCSO will never request that a fee be paid in order to avoid arrest. If this ever occurs, it is a scam. 

“The criminals that commit these types of acts have no conscience and play to fear and they do not always go by one name or method," said Sheriff Rick Staly. "If you have any question about whether a deputy sheriff works for our agency, call us and verify it. We will never ask you for money to avoid jail time or being arrested." 

The FCSO has received several complaints regarding phone calls residents have received from a "Detective Hamilton," who claims he is employed by the FCSO.

The scammer tells the citizen that they are part of an ongoing criminal investigation. In one instance, the unidentified scammer ordered the victim to pay a $900 “fine” in lieu of being arrested. 

In July 2018, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office received similar complaints, at that time concerning a person posing as a "Detective Dennis Rumble." The FCSO does not currently employ and has no record of ever employing any detectives with the names Hamilton or Rumble. Actual FCSO detectives are currently working to identify the fraudster. 

If a citizen has any question about whether a deputy or detective is employed by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, please call 386-313-4911.

Any citizen who has been contacted by “Detective Hamilton” is asked to contact the FCSO or to submit a tip at [email protected]. Please reference Case Number 2020-66106.

 

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