Scam Alert! Jan. 7, 2017.

PRESS RELEASE

Parker County Sheriff’s Office Public Service Announcement

Sheriff’s investigators are warning the public against subject(s) calling random citizens in a scam attempt to defraud them out of large sums of money.

The suspect calls an individual posing as a “Parker County Sergeant,” advising the individual they have an active warrant issued in their name for missing a jury duty summons.

The latest number’s ID came from (817) 485-3226 Ext. #2, which contacted an 84-year-old Parker County woman earlier this week. Sheriff’s investigators stated several other numbers have also been reported as scammer caller IDs.

In a voicemail message, the suspect advised the female victim if she did not pay a $511.90 bond, she would be arrested. The suspect then gave the victim instructions on where to get a specific type of gift card called a “green card,” to pay her “bond,” and forward it to the suspect.

The victim advised the suspect she would appear in person at the Parker County Sheriff’s Office to turn herself in, which the suspect warned her against doing, adding if she drove, she would be arrested.

“Fortunately, the woman was suspicious of the message and reported the incident immediately,” Sheriff Larry Fowler said. “She did not pay the suspect.”

Sheriff’s investigators confirmed the victim was clear of any warrants.

Other incidents have included scammers posing as an inmate seeking bond money to be released from jail. The suspects perform some research and impersonate a family member. Other incidents have been reported as non-profit corporations seeking donations, or as an agent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), seeking payment from owed taxes. The IRS will not contact you by phone.

“We are advising the public to contact us directly if any persons contact you claiming to be from an agency which may sound suspicious, claiming that a warrant exists in your name, or seeking to obtain any type of payment from you,” Fowler said. “Do not pay any amount until the information can be verified and a scam can be ruled out. If you do not recognize the phone number, don’t answer the phone. If it doesn’t sound legitimate, it’s okay to hang up on a scammer.”