New scam that threatens jail time investigated in Clay County

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Scammers are now getting even bolder and sending out emails that threaten to take you to jail if demands are not met.

An email has been circulating to residents of Clay County. It has become so serious that the Clay County Sheriff's Department has opened up an investigation.

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Tracy Kelly said she was checking her son's homework over email, when suddenly she received a message that claimed to be from an attorney general.

"When I opened the email it said that I was going to be arrested, and that if I didn't pay $467.00 they were going to arrest me and send me to court and I'd be responsible for $13,000.00 worth of court costs," she said.

Concerned that she could possibly be taken away from her son, she opened a file attached to the email that had a case number and a name.

"It's got the official seal and it says it's from the attorney general in Tennessee," she said.

Research revealed that the letter came from someone by the name of Albert Brown with the State Attorney's Office in Nashville, Tennessee. The letter threatened Kelly with arrest for not paying a loan and committing fraud. Kelly said the message was so startling that she called the police.

"After I started looking at it I said, 'This is a bit suspicious.' I called Clay County sheriffs and they said, 'If you're going get a warrant, it'd be officially sent by police officer, or it'd be sent by certified mail. They don't communicate by email.' They just did some checking quickly and said, 'Don't worry, it's nothing, it's a fraud. Do not send them any money,'" Kelly said.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office told her that she is not the first one to receive an email like this.

Deputies said if this happens to you to contact officials right away. They will run your license to ensure that you are not in trouble with the law.


About the Authors:

Emmy-nominated journalist Kristin Cason joined the News 6 team in June 2016.