Beware of scam callers impersonating deputies, Tarrant County sheriff says
Authorities with Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office are warning residents about a phone scam in which callers pretend to be sheriff’s deputies and falsely accuse people of crimes or unpaid fines.
The scammers impersonate Tarrant County deputies and falsely accuse their targets of missing jury duty or owing money, or say they are under investigation for other fabricated crimes, authorities said in a news release on Monday.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a scammer will claim the offenses will go away if the victim pays them immediately using gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
“These fraudulent callers spoof legitimate Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office phone numbers and use the names of active personnel in order to appear credible,” authorities said.
The Sheriff’s Office does not call anyone to demand payment over the phone and does not accept gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency as valid forms of payment, according to the release.
Residents who might receive a call like this are urged to hang up immediately and never send any payment by phone, authorities said.
The Sheriff’s Office also asks residents to document everything, including the name the scammer uses and the phone number they called from, and to save any voicemail messages. Residents are also urged to contact the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which they received the call.
In addition to local law enforcement, the scam can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM.