Man duped by fake sheriff call transfers $300,000 before wife intervenes
Ben Wagner was tricked by a caller posing as a sheriff chief, who convinced him to move $300,000 to his account, but his wife’s Find My iPhone alert led police to stop the wire.
A resident of Pinellas County, Ben Wagner, was contacted by an individual claiming to be "Chief Hobbs" of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, who said Wagner faced a warrant for failing to appear for jury duty. To lend credibility, the caller emailed a counterfeit warrant that correctly listed Wagner’s name and the sheriff’s details. The fraudster directed Wagner to travel to the sheriff’s office on Ulmerton Road under a supposed gag order and to wire $300,000 into his checking account.
Wagner’s wife tracked his location with Find My iPhone, alerted him that it was a scam, and contacted police. A Largo officer arrived, spoke directly to the caller, and the scammer terminated the call. The investigation remains open, with no suspect identified and no confirmation of other victims.
Why it matters
The case highlights how sophisticated phone scams can exploit official-sounding impersonations and the importance of verifying contacts.
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