Clearwater Police Warn About a Post-Christmas Phone Scam from “Sgt. DiVincent”
Around the holidays, scammers step up their game. From porch pirates stealing gift deliveries to fake charities trying to raise money for themselves instead of those in need, you really have to keep your head up. But even now that the holidays are over, the scammers are back to work.
Clearwater Police are warning Pinellas County residents this week of a new scam coming from a 727 phone number. They say someone claiming to be “Sergeant DiVincent” is leaving voicemails saying there’s “an urgent civil matter” that needs to be discussed. According to a post on the Clearwater Police Department’s social media, the scammer claims to be calling from the “records section.” If you don’t answer, he leaves this phone number to return the call: 727-220-3687. Clearwater Police say DON’T DO IT. It’s not legit.
The department goes on to give a piece of advice I’ve given for years, especially to my 95 year old grandmother: If you don’t recognize the number, don’t answer the phone. My favorite iPhone feature is the setting where you can put phone calls automatically to voicemail that come from numbers not in your contacts. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message. But that’s apparently what “Sgt. DiVincent” does.
If you get a call from this scammer, Clearwater Police ask you to call THEM instead at 727-562-4424. That’s their dedicated fraud hotline. Whether it’s a call from this scammer or any other you might be suspicious of, call that number instead and they’ll help.