Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Hood County Sheriff's Office is warning residents to be wary when it comes to answering phone calls after they have received several call-ins from the community receiving scam calls.
According to Hood County Sheriff, Roger Deeds, scam calls are always happening, but recently he has seen an uprise in these suspicious calls.
The Federal Trade Commission received 2.4 million fraud reports from consumers in 2022.
Deeds said now that scammers have the ability and technology to show the receiver’s own phone number appear as a phone call.
The sheriff’s office has gotten reports of community members receiving calls from someone claiming they are a deputy with the office and telling them they have a warrant.
“Where (the scammer) messes up bad is when they say we are coming to arrest you unless you go to Wal-Mart and buy $1,000 in gift cards and give the alleged deputy the gift cards and you will not be arrested. The gift card request is always a big giveaway that it’s a scam: We do not and never have, or never will, take someone's gift cards. Moral of the story is always verify what they are telling you --call us. We want to help, but many people still get scammed,” Deeds said. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, so, again, call us to verify.”
Deeds also warned of email scams where scammers will try and get money from the receiver by gathering personal information to access the receiver’s bank account.
Deeds added that it is okay to answer the call but to be careful when it comes to answering questions asked by these scammers.
Data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that consumers reported losing nearly $8.8 billion dollars to fraud in 2022, an increase of more than 30 percent from 2021 where $6.1 billion dollars were lost.
“Always take time to verify who someone is or why they are trying to give you false information,” Deeds noted.
Another way scammers will try and get information from you or get money from you is when the scammer will call and say the receiver’s family member is in jail and needs the receiver to verify some information, Deeds explained.
Deeds added that, again, they will ask the receiver to buy gift cards, and that will allow the family member to be released from jail.
“Law Enforcement is here to help. Be careful of anything you don’t understand or question if it is true. Unfortunately, there are so many people out there that prey on the elderly, especially, or anyone they think they can get away with scamming,” Deeds said.
For questions or concerns regarding scam calls, visit the Hood County Sheriff's Office located at 400 Deputy Larry Miller Dr, Granbury, TX 76048, call the office at 817-579-3316, or email Sherriff Deeds at rdeeds@co.hood.tx.us.
If you believe you received an illegal phone call or text, or lost money due to being scammed, you can report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
