In a time where holiday cheer should be the foremost on people's minds, Tarrant County residents are finding themselves on the receiving end of a less-than-festive trend. According to a statement cited by CBS News Texas, the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office has reported a significant increase in scam calls during this holiday season. Scammers have been posing as employees of the sheriff's office, deceiving victims with claims of outstanding warrants and demanding online payments to settle fraudulent fines or bonds.
These unscrupulous individuals craft deceitful narratives stating that they have missed jury duty and must immediately settle their supposed debt by buying Green Dot cards, gift cards, or apps like Zelle or Cash App. Deceptively, they seem to effortlessly manipulate caller ID systems to make their telephone numbers appear legitimate, ensnaring their victims unknowingly. As a result, the sheriff's office strongly emphasizes that it would never request direct payments for warrants, debunking the scammers' lies.
Reiterating the commitment to protect and inform the public, the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office declared, "We want to remind residents, we will never call or demand money from anyone who has a warrant out for their arrest," in a news release captured by CBS News Texas.
The sheriff's department advises anyone with doubts about the legitimacy of such calls not to respond directly but to contact the local sheriff's department. The recommended action for those in unincorporated Tarrant County is to contact them at (817) 884-1213. A link by WFAA provides more information and tips on effectively recognizing scams.
