B OYNTON B EACH P OLICE D EPARTMENT OFFICE OF MEDIA RELATIONS
100 East Boynton Beach Blvd. Boynton Beach, FL 33425
Jeffrey S. Katz Chief of Police
Phone (561) 742-6191 Fax (561) 742-6185
A CFA Accredited Law Enforcement Agency
Stephanie Slater Public Information Officer SLATERS@BBFL.US (561) 436-4806
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2014
Police warn public of red light ticket scam Boynton Beach Police want to make the public aware of a new scam targeting seniors in our community. This one involves a man claiming to be a lieutenant with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office calling to advise of an outstanding red light ticket that needs to be paid. On April 25, officers responded to a home in Sterling Village and met with an 80-year-old woman who received a phone call from a man who identified himself as PBSO Lt. James Duncan. He said he was calling because she ran a red light at South Federal Highway and Southeast 23rd Avenue in Boynton Beach on March 3 and had not paid the ticket. He then requested her vehicle information, including the make, model, color and license plate number, told her he’d call back in 15 minutes and hung up. A check of our records revealed that the woman did not have an outstanding red light ticket in the City of Boynton Beach. Officers called the phone number on the victim’s caller ID and were greeted by a voicemail that asked the caller to give their name and citation number. The caller was then prompted to press #1 to speak to Lt. James Duncan. The phone number has since been disconnected. Officers also contacted PBSO and determined that there is not a lieutenant there with that name. There is a deputy there named James Duncan, however, officers verified that the phone number the suspect used does not belong to him. Boynton Beach Police want to remind the public that law enforcement agencies will never call you directly and ask for money. If you run a red light at an intersection in the City of Boynton Beach where a camera is located, you will receive a citation in the mail with instructions as to how to pay for it. We would also like to reinforce that you should never give anyone important information over the phone, to include your license plate or driver license numbers, Social Security number and bank accounts. You should immediately report all suspicious phone calls to your local law enforcement agency. While this scam is new to our area, victims came forward in Clay County, Florida in December 2013 after being threatened with arrest if they didn’t pay fines for running red lights. Police in Scottsdale, Arizona warned the public about it last month after hearing from victims. For more information about our red light camera safety program, go to www.bbpd.org.