PSA: Local scammer impersonating Alachua County Sheriff’s Office saying you have citations and could be arrested asking for money and to report to the Sherriff’s office immediately.
Today, May 9, 2026, I received a call from (three 5 to-three to nein-fore nein nein 1) (wrote it this way to try and get past PII filters by auto-moderator) that was a scammer. Everything in this post was a lie from the scammer. Call me an idiot for almost falling for it. I just wanted to pass on the information to prevent other victims from this waste of life scammer.
They said they were Investigator Chandler Garner at the Alachua County Sherriff’s Office, Badge Number 152548 (no idea if this is a real officer or not). He had a southern accent. He said I had a “Failure to Appear” and “Contempt of Court” citation for failing to appear for a Federal Grand Jury summons. I said I never received anything in the mail which isn’t unheard for me since I don’t check mail that often.
He said I wasn’t there at role call. I wasn’t allowed to disconnect from the phone. He would verbally ask for a response from me checking in every 5 minutes. I had to go to CVS, Walgreen, Dollar General, or Family Dollar for 2 “CIC” vouchers that were basically money orders. $490 each for 2 citations. I was taking a lot of time to text details to my wife with this guy still on the phone.
Then I had to go to the Alachua Sheriff Office at 2621 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville, Fl, 32641. I would have to pay the money but I would get a refund for my fine and gas. He said there were 15 other people he’s been dealing with this week that didn’t receive the summons either and that this was some sort of clerical error but I had to pay the fine and clear it up at the Sheriff’s Office.
My wife (who wasn’t home when I first received the call) was the one who had the brilliant idea to call the Sheriff’s office directly and the actual Sheriff said it was a scam. She told the guy that he’s a scammer and he immediately hung up.
Jesus fucking christ. Don’t fall for this evil piece of shit like I almost did.