Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office warns of increase in fraudulent telephone calls targeting residents

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office (FBCSO) is reporting a significant rise in fraudulent schemes targeting local residents.

Over the past week, the Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports from individuals who received unsolicited phone calls pressuring them to make immediate payments to avoid arrest. In these cases, large sums of money were transferred using payment apps, which do not allow for refunds.

Authorities say these schemes often involve callers impersonating trusted figures, such as government officials or family members. In recent reports, the caller even referenced the name of a legitimate FBCSO employee to create a false emergency and a sense of urgency. The caller claimed a warrant had been issued due to the recipient’s alleged failure to appear for a federal jury summons and instructed the individual to pay via PayPal to avoid arrest.

The FBCSO emphasizes that its employees, including warrant officers, do not contact individuals to collect warrant fees or request payments related to state or federal jury summonses. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office does not conduct official business through wire transfers, payment apps like PayPal, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.

To help protect yourself from these types of schemes:

• Be cautious of unexpected calls from individuals who create a sense of urgency and pressure you to send money to resolve a problem, assist a family member, or claim a prize or grant.
• Fraudsters may attempt to obtain your financial information, such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, driver’s license information, or other personal details by pretending to be an authority figure or a family member in distress.
• These schemes often rely on your desire to help others or avoid trouble.
• Your personal information can be exploited for identity theft, allowing perpetrators to obtain credit, loans, grants, or bank cards in your name.
• If a caller or automated message (including AI-generated voices) asks for Yes/No answers, uses high-pressure tactics, or makes you feel rushed, it may be part of a fraudulent scheme.
• Some perpetrators “spoof” legitimate phone numbers. Remain skeptical and do not rely solely on caller ID. Be cautious of any caller who creates a sense of immediate danger.
• Do not provide personal information and hang up if you suspect the call is not legitimate.
• Money sent via PayPal, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps is typically not recoverable and these transactions are irreversible.

“We have seen a growing number of schemes targeting our community, and we urge everyone to stay alert — if something feels off, it probably is,” said Sheriff Eric Fagan. “Protect yourself by staying informed and always double-check before giving out personal information.”