Sheriff’s Office Warns of Dangerous New Scam

(Smith County, Texas) It's awful to think that unsuspecting, trusting East Texans are being scammed out of hundreds or thousands of dollars each day. Scammers constantly prey on people's sympathy to gain access to an unsuspecting East Texan's bank account.

How Scammers Are Targeting East Texans

Once sympathy is earned by the scammers, they'll go after every available dollar, and in some cases, it could be the life savings of an elderly East Texas resident. These scammers have no remorse or sympathy whatsoever. Scamming is how they make their living.

Scams can come in many different forms. One of the latest scams involves the Smith County Sheriff's Office and the removal of ankle monitors. Smith County Sheriff Sergeant Larry Christian serves as the department's Public Information Officer and says scams involving his department are on the rise through unsolicited phone calls and text messages.

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What the Sheriff’s Office Is Warning About

Sergeant Christian says no one from any law enforcement agency will ever call you and request money for any reason.

The latest scam involving the Smith County Sheriff's Office involves individuals claiming to be with Smith County Pretrial Services, the Smith County Jail, or a lieutenant or deputy with the Sheriff’s Office. The scammers gain credibility with the victim because the scammer often has accurate information about a relative currently in Smith County's custody. They know specific names, charges, and arrest details.

How Victims Are Losing Money

The scammer lets the victim know their relative is about to be released, but they need money to remove an ankle monitor or similar situation must be met before being released from jail. They're typically asking for $1,800 to $5,500, which must be paid immediately, and then the monitor will be removed.

Scammers are asking the victim to transfer the money to them using a cash app, to withdraw money, or to use a Bitcoin ATM at an area convenience store to send them the cash. Once deposited, the funds are quickly transferred through several accounts, making them difficult to trace.

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Local Numbers Being Used In Scam

Sergeant Christian says scammers are spoofing local numbers, including those associated with the Smith County Jail. Then, other non-local cellular numbers are being used as well, and the scammers are identifying themselves as Smith County Sheriff officers.

Recently, one East Texan was victimized by these scammers and lost $5,500 after depositing it in a Bitcoin ATM, and another person lost $1,800 after using a QR code to transfer money to this organization.

Unfortunately, these people have lost these funds. The Smith County White Collar Crimes Division is actively working these cases to find those associated with this scam.

How to Protect Yourself From Scams

Don't become a victim of this scam or any other. Always question who the call is coming from. If you are not familiar with the person, the situation, or the organization when the call or text first arrives, you should simply hang up or delete the text and block the number. Staying alert and vigilant is how you remain in control and not become a victim of a scam.