BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a scammer impersonating a PBSO captain through fraudulent emails. The messages falsely claim to come from a sheriff’s office captain and direct recipients to join a “Zoom Court Official Proceeding” tied to a supposed “Federal Court Virtual Disposition.” PBSO says the email is fake and did not come from the agency or any federal court.
The scam email is loaded with official-sounding language designed to scare recipients into compliance.
It claims the “proceeding” will be monitored by a judge in real time, that all actions taken during the session are subject to judicial oversight, and that the session may be recorded for court records.
Recipients are told their camera must stay on, their device must stay off mute unless directed otherwise, and that they must remain visible and responsive throughout — while, contradictorily, the email says “court officials” may have their own cameras turned off and will instead be verified through onscreen credentials.
If you receive one of these emails, PBSO in a statement said the following:
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- Do not respond.
- Do not click on any links or open any attachments.
- Delete the email immediately.
“If you are unsure whether a communication claiming to be from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is legitimate, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS or you can remain ANONYMOUS by downloading our new app “PBSO” for your Apple or Android Smart Phone and using the “See Something” feature. The app can also be downloaded from www.pbsoapp.com“
