Event Brief
Sep 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET
Man warns of sophisticated scam posing as sheriff
By The BriefBrief
A Pinellas County man, Ben Wagner, says he nearly fell for a phone scam where a caller posed as “Chief Hobbs” with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The caller claimed Wagner had a warrant for missing a jury summons and emailed a fake warrant with his correct details, then pushed for wired cash.
WHO: Ben Wagner; caller posing as “Chief Hobbs” with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
WHAT: Warning about a sophisticated phone scam involving fake warrants and a demand for wired cash
WHEN: Reported Sep 1, 2026 at 3:15 PM ET
WHERE: Pinellas County, Florida
WHY: The scam involved fake warrant claims tied to an alleged missed jury summons, followed by demands for wired cash.
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