A persistent con artist claiming to be a deputy from the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) is on the prowl, looking to dupe unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned cash. The TCSO has taken to social media to reiterate a warning about this scam, which, despite repeated alerts, continues to hoodwink the community.
This scam, which has proven effective in the past, involves callers demanding payment for various non-existent fees or fines, preying on the fear and trust of those they contact. TCSO emphasizes that they will never initiate contact by phone to demand payment. If you have missed jury duty, any contact would come directly from the courts, not from TCSO deputies.
If you happen to receive a call from someone who claims to be affiliated with TCSO and they start instructing you to settle payments, particularly using rather unconventional methods such as gift cards or wire transfers, that's your cue to hang up. "Please, if you receive a call from someone purporting to be from the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and they’re asking you to PAY for anything, DON’T DO IT!" advises the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office.
An integral part of their message includes reminders of the unusual payment methods scammers request, "Always be skeptical of people asking you to pay them in gift cards, via wire transfers, or even meeting you at a random location for cash." Tarrant County Sheriff's Office is clear in their communication: the real deputies will never call you to ask for money; instead, they will show up at your house if an in-person exchange is necessary. Sharing this information is critical in ensuring no more residents fall prey to this fraudulent scheme.
