Isabelle Lux, a 33-year-old influencer and expectant mother from Palm Beach, Florida, had a close call recently that she’s now sharing to help others avoid a similar fate.

Last Friday, she received a phone call that seemed to come from her local sheriff’s department, but it was anything but ordinary.

The Scam Unfolds

The caller, posing as an officer, threatened Isabelle with a 72-hour jail stay if she didn’t immediately transfer money.

The urgency and intimidation tactics were enough to nearly scare her into complying.

Isabelle felt the situation was very real, partly because the caller used the genuine phone number for the sheriff’s department.

Playing on Emotions

The scammer’s story was elaborate: Isabelle was told she had missed jury duty and had a warrant out for her arrest.

When the scammer learned she was pregnant, he shifted his approach, pretending to be sympathetic to her situation.

He then offered a “solution” in the form of a fine, suggesting it was better for her and her baby than spending time in jail.

The Moment of Clarity

Despite her initial fear and confusion, Isabelle’s husband intervened just in time.

He contacted the local sheriff’s department and learned that no such warrant existed and that scammers were indeed spoofing their number.

This revelation confirmed that the entire situation was a scam, and Isabelle was relieved not to have lost any money.

Widespread Problem

The Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost $10 billion to fraudsters in 2023, with phone number spoofing being a common tactic.

The Federal Communications Commission has warned that scammers often use local numbers or mimic trusted organizations to trick people into giving away money or personal information.