VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – At least three Volusia County residents were asked to buy thousands of dollars worth of prepaid gift cards to send to a so-called deputy or else they'd be arrested.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said it's looking for a man who they said is posing as one of them.
Caller: "I need to speak to someone about a scam."
Dispatch: "Were they able to obtain any money or personal information of yours?"
Caller: "They were well on their way. I don't know if you have a Lt. Cross and badge number 589 in the sheriff's department but that's what said he was."
Suzanne Gray tells News 6 she received one of those calls.
"It scared me," she said. "He said this is Lt. Cross from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Badge number 589."
Gray says the man told the couple they needed to pay a $5,500 fine due to outstanding warrants for missing jury duty, or else.
"'Don't want to have a deputy come out there and pick you up and put you in handcuffs and cart you off to jail' and I said 'no," Gray told News 6.
While Gray didn't fall victim, an 82-year-old woman did. Deputies say she went to Winn-Dixie and purchased 11 prepaid gift cards, sending him the full $5,500.
"I have seen many times on the news, the elderly being victimized by people such as this gentleman and it's not right," Gray said.
Gray said she knew something wasn't right thanks to her daughter being in law enforcement, but also learned another tip from deputies.
"He said 'we will never call you over the phone and tell you that we have an arrest warrant. If we have an arrest warrant, we will show up to your door,'" Gray said.
If you have any information about the scam, contact Volusia County Sheriff's Office.