Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.
352 Area Code Scam - How to Protect Yourself

Scammers are using VOIP technology to display a fake local Florida 352 area code number on your caller ID. Also known as "neighbor spoofing", this tricks you into answering. Fraudsters use this method to impersonate trusted institutions, such as the police, the IRS, or local utility companies.

Common Area Code 352 Scam

Scammers frequently use local Florida numbers (covering Gainesville, Ocala, and Inverness) to carry out the following schemes:

  • Jury Duty Scams: Callers claim you missed jury duty and demand an immediate fine to avoid an arrest warrant or a suspended driver's license.
  • Utility Shutoff Threats: Impersonators pose as Duke Energy or SECO Energy representatives, threatening to cut off your power within the hour unless you pay over the phone.
  • IRS or Law Enforcement Impersonation: Scammers pose as police officers (e.g., Alachua County Sheriff or Ocala Police) or IRS agents to demand payment for back taxes or a loved one's fabricated bail.
  • Bank/Apple Pay Alerts: Texts and automated calls claim your accounts are suspended or flagged for suspicious activity, tricking you into verifying passwords or transferring money.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Never send money over the phone: Legitimate government agencies (like the courts or the IRS) and local utilities will never demand immediate payment via prepaid gift cards, money orders, or wire transfers.
  • Hang up and call back independently: If someone calls claiming to be from a local sheriff's office or bank, hang up. Call their publicly listed, official non-emergency number to verify if there is an actual issue.
  • Do not engage: Even if you answer a spam call, simply hang up. Answering or returning a text from an unknown number only confirms that your line is active, which will result in even more calls.
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