Sierra Martin | Managing Editor
HAYS COUNTY – The Hays County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has recently responded to several reports of phone scams. The Scammer, posing as a HCSO employee, asks for payment towards a warrant or citation. Last month, the HCSO warned residents of a similar scam executed through text messages.
According to Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler, citizens are receiving a call from a local 512 number that identifies themselves as a Sheriff’s Office employee using an actual employee’s name. The voice mail answers as “Hays County Sheriff’s Department Warrant and Citation Division” upon call back.
The HCSO says that scammers often obtain names from staff directories and pose as those employees while soliciting money in cash, gift cards or other payments. Scammers often attempt to make the phone number appear to come from a legitimate business.
Recent scam calls have also been coming from a 737 area code. 737 is a new area code in the San Marcos area, but all of Hays County Sheriff’s Office numbers have a 512 area code, according to the HCSO.
The Sheriff’s Office says that no legitimate business will ever request or demand payment by a gift card. If anyone asks for payment by gift card, hang up on them and block the number from future contact.
“Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give someone a gift. They’re also a popular way for scammers to steal money from you,” the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice…
