Palm Beach County Residents Targeted. NEVER GIVE ANYONE YOUR BANK CARD PIN.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) is urgently warning the community about a significant rise in a phone scam where criminals are successfully impersonating FBI agents or bank representatives. The scheme typically begins with a phone call or text message instructing the victim that their account is compromised and they must take immediate action. The scammer then directs the unsuspecting person to go to their financial institution, withdraw a large sum of money, and meet a fake “agent” in a nearby parking lot to hand over the cash under the guise of “safeguarding” the funds.
In a concerning new version of the scam, the scammer tricks victims into handing over their debit cards and personal identification numbers (PINs). This direct access bypasses the need for the victim to withdraw the cash themselves, allowing the scammers to make fraudulent and rapid withdrawals from the victim’s account directly. PBSO emphasizes that no legitimate law enforcement agency, including the FBI, or bank representative will ever instruct a customer to withdraw cash or physically hand over money, banking information, or verification codes to another individual.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and take immediate protective measures if contacted by this type of caller. If an individual receives a suspicious call or text, they should hang up immediately. The safest course of action is to contact your bank directly by visiting a local branch or calling the official number printed on the back of your card to verify the status of your account. Victims should also contact their nearest law enforcement agency for assistance and to report the attempted fraud.
PBSO reminds the public that these individuals are sophisticated scammers intent on stealing personal information and money. Residents should never send money, Zelle payments, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to unknown callers or individuals. Safeguarding your personal and financial information is the primary defense against this and other forms of telephone and text message-based criminal activity.
