The Coconut Creek Police Department is urging residents to be cautious when searching online for local business phone numbers after a city woman was scammed out of hundreds of dollars by a fraudulent listing.
According to police, the woman filed a report after attempting to order pizza from a local restaurant. Instead of reaching the legitimate business, she dialed the number she found online beginning with 888 — not the 954 area code commonly used by local establishments.
Believing she was placing a normal order, the woman provided her credit card information to the male scammer who answered the phone. Police said the scammer then used her card to go on a personal shopping spree, purchasing items that included pest-control supplies and PVC pipe.
Authorities said the incident highlights how easy it is for fraudulent or misleading business listings to appear in online search results—and how quickly scammers can exploit them.
While not every number beginning with 888 is a scam, police advised residents to be “very wary” and double-check area codes before calling any local business.
The department emphasized a simple rule of thumb: When you’re hungry and searching for your favorite spot’s number online, make sure the listing starts with your local area code.
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