352 Area Code Scam - How to Protect Yourself

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.