“This call is about your outstanding warrant...” These are some of the words Liberty County residents have gotten as scammers impersonate law enforcement officers over the phone to steal money from unsuspecting victims.
Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Ongoing Phone Scam LIBERTY COUNTY, TX — The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office is...
Posted by Liberty County Sheriff's Office on Monday, July 7, 2025
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The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to let residents know the scammers involved in this scheme are “falsely identifying themselves as Investigator Brooks or Captain David Meyers.”
They’re “making bold and misleading claims” like “the recipients have outstanding warrants, missed court dates, or failed to register as sex offenders,” which are all followed by demands for immediate payment.
The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office set the record straight: “We do not ask for payment over the phone for any reason, including warrants, court fees, or sex offender registration. If you receive a phone call of this nature, it is fraudulent.”
So, how can you tell if you’re on a call with a con artist? I talked to Leah Napoliello, Vice President of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston, about the warning signs, what to do when you realize you are on the phone with a fraudster, and the steps you can take to protect yourself in the future.
Warning signs
Napoliello explains the Sheriff’s Office does not contact people “asking for any type of payment.”
If there is a warrant out for your arrest or if you have any court-related issues, somebody will serve you in person.
“A big warning sign,” Napoliello explains, is if the call seems “out of the blue”. A Sheriff’s Office isn’t going to just “contact you on the phone wanting you to pay immediately like that,” said Napoliello.
Another red flag to be aware of is the use of unusual payment methods. Napoliello says scammers generally push for a form of payment that is untraceable, like a prepaid debit card or gift card.
How to protect yourself from being scammed
The easiest way to protect yourself from being scammed over the phone is to ignore calls from unfamiliar phone numbers. Napoliello and the Liberty Sheriff’s Office both advise against engaging with the scammer and to hang up immediately.
You can also use call-blocking resources. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines call blocking as a “tool used by phone companies to stop illegal and unwanted calls from reaching your phone.”
It’s as easy as adjusting specific settings on your phone, signing up with a third-party service, or downloading a third-party app to block unwanted scam calls. And don’t forget-- file a police report if you’ve fallen victim to a phone scam. Credit card companies are supposed to notify law enforcement, like the FCC or local police department, so they “can investigate the scammer and hopefully put a stop to them,” Napoliello said.
When it comes to donating money to charities, Napoliello advises using your credit card in case you mistakenly send it to a fake organization. “So if there are any issues, you can always go back and dispute the charges,” Napoliello said.
Conclusion
Everyone should remain vigilant against phone scams impersonating law enforcement officers. Remember, the Sheriff’s Office will never demand payment over the phone for warrants or court fees. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and do not engage with the caller. Use call-blocking tools to reduce unwanted calls and report any scam attempts to local authorities immediately.
If you live in Liberty County and believe this scam has targeted you, please contact the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office directly at 936-336-4500 and press “1” for dispatch.
If you live outside of Liberty County, consider calling your local Sheriff’s Office. Then, file a report with the FTC.
Have you fallen for a phone scam? If so, we want to hear about your experience in the comments below!
