Phone Scammers Posing as Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant (24-150)

PINELLAS COUNTY—The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging the public to be on alert for recent phone call/email scams.

According to detectives, the suspect is calling residents of Pinellas County and claiming to be “Lieutenant Keith Thomas.” The scammer tells the victims that they have a warrant and then sends a follow-up email confirming the information. Detectives say the email looks authentic. The suspect asks for money to be withdrawn from the victim's bank account in order to clear the warrant, then sent via Bitcoin machines in convenience stores. One recent victim sent the suspect $32,000.

Several different numbers are being used to call the victims; however, some have reported that the calls come from 727-582-6200, which is the main line for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

PLEASE NOTE: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call, text, or email citizens requesting money over the telephone and will never ask for banking information to wire money. We advise citizens not to give personal information or account information over the phone and call the Sheriff’s Office to report suspicious activity. 

If anyone has information on this scam or has become a victim, they are asked to call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.