Palm Beach police are warning residents about scam callers who pretend to be law enforcement officers and threaten arrest unless money is paid immediately.
The Town of Palm Beach Police Department said the calls are part of a common telephone scam in which fraudsters falsely claim the person has an outstanding warrant, missed jury duty, or failed to appear for a court proceeding.
The threat is followed by a payment demand. Police said callers may tell victims to pay through wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other non-traditional payment methods to avoid arrest.
The warning is simple: real law enforcement agencies and courts do not call people to demand immediate payment to make an arrest threat disappear.
The Scam Starts With A Fake Officer And A Fake Emergency
The Palm Beach alert describes a phone scam built around fear and speed. The caller may claim to be from a local police department, sheriff’s office, courthouse, or federal agency.
The scammer may also spoof caller ID so the call appears to come from a real government or law enforcement number. That can make the threat feel more convincing, especially if the caller uses an official-sounding name or already has some personal information.
Police said scammers often use aggressive language, create urgency, and tell victims to stay on the phone while arranging payment. That pressure is part of the fraud, not proof that the call is real.
Jury Duty Threats Are A Common Version
One common version involves a fake jury duty claim. The caller says the person missed jury duty or failed to appear in court and must pay a fine or bond right away to avoid a warrant or arrest.
The Federal Trade Commission issued a similar warning on June 11, saying scammers may call, text, or email fake official-looking documents claiming someone missed jury duty and owes money.
The FTC said real law enforcement will not text or email an arrest warrant, and courts do not demand payment over the phone. The agency also warned that only scammers insist on payment through a payment app, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfer.
The Safest Move Is To Hang Up And Verify
Palm Beach police said residents should hang up immediately if they receive a suspicious call and should never provide personal, financial, or banking information over the phone.
Anyone who believes the call may be real should contact the law enforcement agency or court directly using a verified phone number from an official website, not a number provided by the caller.
Town of Palm Beach residents who believe they may have been victimized can contact the Palm Beach Police Department at 561-838-5454. Scam attempts can also be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
A caller who threatens arrest and demands immediate payment is trying to turn fear into money before the victim has time to check the claim.