JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Clay County Sheriff's Office is warning people about a new scam going around that threatens people with hundreds of dollars in fines over supposed noise violations.
"It is written on Sheriff's Office letterhead and advises residents who are not complying with neighborhood covenant and restrictions, they could be fined $300," the Sheriff's Office stated.
According to a copy of one fraudulent notice provided by the Sheriff's Office, a resident was accused of mowing their lawn between 7-11 a.m. and disturbing their neighbors' sleep.
"If you do not begin mowing your lawn at later times, you can be removed from home and/or county," the phony notice warned.
Below is a copy of one of the phony notices:
In one Orange Park neighborhood, people living on Glendale Lane received the fake letter.
Lashann Walton told News4Jax that she received a different letter, but it claimed to be from the homeowners association.
"When I called them this morning, the number on the letter wasn’t real. The website wasn’t real," Walton said. "When I dug up the actual phone number for the homeowners association, they were like, 'We didn’t send a letter to you. We’re not asking for any money. There’s no complaint on your property.'"
When asked about the fake HOA letter, investigators said they hadn't received any reports, but encouraged people to notify authorities.
Walton said the word on her street is that the letters could be an April Fools' Day joke.
"I just hope that's what it was, ultimately," she said, adding that she hopes if anyone else received a similar scam letter, they will be just as skeptical as she was.
In reality, the agency noted, the Sheriff's Office does not send out these notices, nor does it seek to collect fines with them. Those who receive them are asked to dial 904-264-6512 and speak with a deputy.