My name is Daniel Roberts, and I want to share how I nearly became a victim of what the Broward Sheriff’s Office has described as an emerging scam — one that is spreading rapidly across South Florida.
Not long after a close family member of mine was arrested, I received a phone call from someone who confidently introduced himself as Sergeant Michael Harris from the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He sounded professional, calm, and authoritative. He knew details about the arrest, which immediately made me believe the call was legitimate.
The scammer, Michael Harris, told me there was an urgent issue that needed to be resolved immediately to prevent further legal trouble. He claimed that unless I acted right away, my family member could face additional charges or delays in release. I was frightened, confused, and emotional — exactly the state of mind he seemed to be counting on.
He insisted that payment had to be made immediately and instructed me to send money electronically using services like Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or a wire transfer. At one point, he even mentioned gift cards as an option. The pressure was intense. He kept repeating that time was critical and that delaying could make the situation worse.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that this tactic — creating fear and urgency after an arrest — is a hallmark of impersonation scams that have been reported throughout Broward County, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach County, and surrounding areas. Scammers have been posing not only as deputies, but also as sergeants, pretrial specialists, court officials, and even federal agents.
Fortunately, before sending any money, I paused and decided to verify the information. That’s when I learned the truth: the Broward Sheriff’s Office never requests payment over the phone or through digital payment apps. No real deputy, sergeant, or jail official would ever ask for money this way.
I later learned that authorities are urging residents to hang up immediately if anyone claiming to be from BSO asks for payment and to never share personal or financial information with unknown callers. They are also encouraging people to warn relatives, caregivers, and anyone who may be especially vulnerable to scams.
I’m sharing my experience because I was lucky enough to catch the scam before losing money. Others may not be so fortunate. If someone like the scammer Michael Harris calls you claiming to be law enforcement and demands payment — hang up. That simple action could save you from becoming the next victim.