Sheriff's Office Warns of Phone Scam

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is warning Manatee County residents of a possible phone scam in the area after a Manatee County woman receivd a fradulent phone call this morning demanding money for her son's safe return.

Ruth Martinez received a phone call from a Miami area code just after 10 a.m. today saying that her son had been in a car accident and that she needed to get to a Western Union Office immediately to pay $1,500 for damages to the vehicle he hit. The scammers also demanded another $1,500 if she wanted to get her son back safely.

They threatened her son's life if she contacted authorities. The callers also told her to go to the nearest Western Union and that once she arrived there she would be given further instructions.

Deputies made contact with the victim's son and verified that he was unharmed. He also told deputies that he was not involved in a car accident and had no knowledge that his mother was being contacted.

Soon after Martinez received a text message saying that her eldest son had been killed because she was not cooperating. Deputies went to his work place and verified he was safe. He also said he had no knowledge of the phone calls his mother was receiving.

Deputies investigated and determined that Martinez was the target of a phone scam.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office believes this is a phone scam targeting the Hispanic community.