BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – It’s not a new problem, but experts say scams are happening more frequently these days — and South Florida residents are increasingly in the crosshairs.
From text messages about E-Z Pass tolls to fake calls from Amazon’s fraud line, scammers are using every tool at their disposal—especially artificial intelligence—to trick victims into handing over their money.
Often, they do their homework, gathering personal information beforehand to make their schemes sound even more convincing.
“This is not something that is just unique to the Broward Sheriff’s Office,” said Carey Codd, a spokesperson for the agency. “It’s happening all over South Florida.”
Whether it’s fake job offers, phony messages from the DMV, or crooks pretending to be local police officers or federal agents, law enforcement says the tactics are increasingly sophisticated and effective.
“There are a lot of scams going around,” said Officer Mike Vega of the City of Miami Police Department. “And lately, it seems like they’ve increased.”
Scammers reach out via phone calls, texts, and emails. But the goal is always the same: to steal your money.
“It’s not based on your intelligence, it’s not based on who you are,” Vega said. “These people will prey on those who have no idea that these scams are going on.”
Artificial intelligence is adding a new layer of danger.
In one example flagged by local police, a deepfake video appeared to show the director of Miami-Dade County urging someone to send money. Though it was fake, it looked convincing.
“As technology advances, these scams are becoming easier for criminals to create and more realistic,” Vega warned.
According to the FBI, Florida residents reported 1,579 impersonation scams last year — resulting in more than $12 million in losses.
“The most important takeaway is to know that neither the Broward Sheriff’s Office nor any legitimate law enforcement agency will ever call you and ask for money,” Codd said.
Scammers are even spoofing the phone numbers of trusted organizations.
“They’re so smart that they’re often getting information about who you are,” Vega said. “It’s so easy—just Google your name.”
Authorities urge residents to never share personal information over the phone, hang up immediately if a call feels suspicious, and report scam attempts to local law enforcement using the non-emergency line at 954-694-9053.