Manatee County Sheriff's Office official website

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manatee County Sheriff's Office now says a fake website floating around spoofing theirs is no longer active. Deputies are still working to identify who owns the site and the scammers involved.

Despite that, the sheriff's office warns that people have still gotten calls from scammers claiming to be MCSO employees. The scammers will leave messages directing them to the fake site to pay for fines or give them an opportunity to "donate to charities."

Lt. Robert Andrews says it’s a scam and doesn't want people to fall for it.

Lt. Andrews is the head of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit. The fake website was set up as a money-making scam.

According to the sheriff’s office, someone is calling residents and telling them they missed jury duty. 

Once they get you on the phone, they'll direct you to a fake website instead of the actual website at manateesheriff.com to pay their fine using a MoneyPak Voucher Payment Center.

Lt. Andrews says they don't know how many people have already fallen for it.

He says anyone who gets a call and directs them to make a payment to the fraudulent site should let the Manatee County Sheriff's Office know immediately.

You can reach the sheriff's office by calling 941-747-3011

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