Tom Green County Sheriff's Office Warns of Phone Scam

SAN ANGELO, TX - The Tom Green County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a phone scam that has been reported multiple times in recent days.

Several individuals have contacted the Sheriff's Office after receiving calls from someone claiming to be a deputy with the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office. During these calls, the scammer tells the person they have an outstanding warrant for their arrest and instructs them to visit specific retail stores to pay a fine.

Sheriff's officials remind the public that the number appearing on the caller ID may not actually belong to the scammer, as these types of calls are often "spoofed" to appear legitimate.

The Tom Green County Sheriff's Office would like to remind the public:

• Law enforcement officers will never call and demand payment to avoid arrest.
• Citizens will never be instructed to pay fines at a retail store.  
• Requests for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or similar methods are clear indicators of a scam.
• Scammers use names of actual law enforcement officers while perpetrating these scams.  
• Residents who receive this type of call are encouraged to hang up immediately and not provide any personal or financial information.  

"If you receive a call about a warrant, jury duty, something with your grandchildren, utilities being shut off, cryptocurrency, or anything involving gift cards - I would be very skeptical about the legitimacy of the call," Sheriff Nick Hanna stated. 

The Sheriff's Office encourages residents to share this warning with friends and family, particularly elderly citizens who are often targeted by scammers, information from the sheriff's office stated.