Scammers

A Sarasota man is among nine people from Florida and Ohio charged in connection with alleged schemes to defraud programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled, and to obtain controlled substances through fraud. The charges filed in the Middle District of Florida are part of the Department of Justice’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.

Charlotte County cautions residents against providing credit card, bank, or other personal information to callers claiming to represent EMS billing or other county departments.A resident recently alerted the county’s Fire & EMS headquarters, stating they were contacted via phone by a party claiming to have an EMS billing refund due to overpayment and requesting the caller's banking information so they could receive the refund amount.

A nationwide scam involving jury duty and fines for a claimed non-appearance has prompted an alert from officials of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida. Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg issued the warning Monday advising the public of a scam in which callers pose as U.S. Marshals or other government officials and claim that the victim is about to be arrested for not appearing for jury duty but can avoid arrest by paying a fine.

A scam targeting people being subpoenaed for court cases and demanding money to stave off an arrest is spreading around Southwest Florida.

Official City events can be seen via CapeCoral.gov; be wary of events that ask for payment if not officially sanctioned.

Tabria Josey, along with an accomplice, fraudulently listed underdeveloped plots of land with homebuilding or investment potential in several Florida counties. The case against her accomplice, Kiana Kiara-Alexis Russell, 22, of Loxahatchee, also involves charges of scheming to defraud, money laundering and aggravated white-collar crime and remains pending.The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution filed the case in Lee County due to the fact that many of the victims and listed properties are in Lee County.

All complainants indicated that they received suspicious phone calls from the same phone number (239-351-5418) from individuals identifying themselves as either “Sergeant Jefferson” or “Lieutenant Cooper.”

Hurricane Ian brought the deadliest destruction Florida has seen in years, and with it, likely billions of dollars in damages. Florida officials and property insurers are warning people left vulnerable after the storm to not become victims twice and fall prey to common scams.

State health officials reported 3,220 new cases of COVID-19, Wednesday, increasing Florida's total to 608,722 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 153 new coronavirus related deaths, Aug. 26, bringing the statewide death toll to 10,872 fatalities.Wednesday marked the fourth consecutive day health officials reported fewer than 4,000 new cases of the virus in a day. The last time reported new cases were that low was June 16-19.

Scams targeting Southwest Florida's senior residents are common, but few seniors believe they could ever be taken. That’s why the Punta Gorda police…