Court, jail phone scams prompt warning from Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office

Staff Report

Edinburg, TX – The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be on alert for court and jail phone scams in which callers pose as law enforcement or other officials and pressure victims to send money or share personal information.

According to the sheriff’s office, scammers are contacting community members by phone, text and email while pretending to be jail staff, deputies, court personnel, bondsmen or even family members in distress. In many cases, the callers claim there is a warrant, unpaid fees or an urgent legal matter that must be resolved immediately.

Deputies emphasized that the sheriff’s office does not collect referral fees, bond fees or any other payments over the phone, and will not ask residents to pay using gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or other unofficial methods.

Residents are urged to follow these guidelines:

• Never give out personal information such as date of birth, Social Security number, banking information, driver’s license number or verification codes over the phone or by text.
• Never send money to someone who contacts you unexpectedly claiming to be from a court, jail or law enforcement agency.
• Hang up and call the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office directly using its official number if you receive a suspicious call.
• Be wary of links sent by text or email from unknown sources, which may be phishing or spoofing attempts.
• Report suspicious calls or texts immediately.

The sheriff’s office noted that legitimate communication from the department will come only from verified, official phone numbers, and law enforcement will not request sensitive information through text messages or from unknown callers.

Residents who believe they have been targeted or victimized by a scam may contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at 956-383-8114 or visit the office at 711 E. El Cibolo Road in Edinburg. Possible fraud can also be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Source — Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.