Scam in Broward connected to two other states, suspects identified

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — The suspects behind a phone scam in Broward County have been identified and turns out Broward isn't the only place its been happening.

The scam involved suspects impersonating BSO deputies and "spoofing" the BSO Courthouse Control Room phone number.

Spoofing occurs when someone disguises a phone number to assume the identity of a trusted, credible source.

Victims received the spoofed call from the BSO number, and the scammer told the victim they need to pay a surety bond in cash through a bail bond company to avoid arrest on outstanding charges.

The scammers used two bail bond companies, one near the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale and the other in Dania Beach.

Related: Scam alert in Indian River County

The bail bond companies were unaware and not involved in the scheme.

In September, BSO received over twenty reports from people, mostly female medical professionals, who received calls from the fake number.

Several people fell victim to the scam, which resulted in losses in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Detectives with Broward County Sheriff's Office, began investigating the calls and learned that the suspects operating in Broward County were in Pennsylvania a few weeks prior.

After teaming up with authorities in Pennsylvania, BSO detectives developed further information that the suspects were currently operating the same scheme in Texas.

Working with authorities there, the suspects in the Pennsylvania and Broward County phone scams were identified as they were preparing to leave Texas.

Deputies ask that if you fell victim to this scam to report the incident to the Broward Sheriff’s Office Dania Beach Criminal Investigation Detective Mike Marotta at 954-518-0158.