Watch Out for Scam Callers Collecting Fake Court Fines, Dallas Sheriff's Office Warns

Dallas County residents should be alert to scam phone calls claiming to be from the Dallas County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies who demand money, sheriff's deputies said.Callers claim to be from the sheriff's department, U.S. Marshals Service, court officers and other agencies, sheriff's department spokesman Raul Reyna said.During the calls, scammers try to collect a nonexistent fine so victims can ward off arrest for failing to report for jury duty or other made-up offenses. Scammers tell them they can avoid arrest by buying prepaid debit cards such as Green Dot cards or gift cards.Victims are then told to read the card number over the phone to satisfy the fine.Residents should report the calls not only to their local police department, sheriff's office or marshals office, but also to the Federal Trade Commission, Reyna said.Don't be fooled if scammers sometimes provide information such as badge numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials and state and federal judges, Reyna said. They may also spoof their phone numbers to appear on caller ID as if they are calling from an actual court or government agency."Legitimate court employees and other law enforcement officials will never call to solicit this type of personal or financial information from you," Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown said. "If the caller is urging you to provide this type of information or any other personal or financial information, hang up and report the call to the your local police authorities and the FTC."  Continue reading...