Another Amazon phone scam

On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office took a report of an Islamorada resident receiving a fake text purportedly from Amazon asking for money. The resident contacted Amazon and learned the text was a scam. This follows national news of an uptick in Amazon scams since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The Sheriff’s Office received another Amazon-related scam report Tuesday. This time a scammer was posing as someone else in the community and asking for Amazon gift cards.

All residents should be weary of any unknown third party caller requesting money. Always hang up and contact that loved one/company/organization first. Never send money over the phone.

Scammers have been cloning legitimate law enforcement officers, business and other government office phone numbers in an effort to appear legitimate. Some residents have previously reported getting calls from someone posing as Sheriff Rick Ramsay.

Never make any sort of purchase or monetary transaction with/using gift cards online or via the phone. Gift cards are a giveaway you are being scammed.

Residents should never give personal, monetary or gift card information to anyone over the phone, in a text or an email— TO ANYONE REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY CLAIM TO BE — without first checking with that person, utility, business or government agency!

Anyone with information about any crimes should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 305-292-7000. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-471-8477. If a tip leads to an arrest in the case, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips may also be submitted online at www.floridakeyscrimestoppers.com or via a text message using the smartphone app called P3 Phone. Tips can also be submitted via social media such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the @CrimeStoppers305 hashtag.

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