Warrant Scam in Smith County

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to be on the look out for a new scam. On Thursday afternoon a caller identified himself as an investigator with the sheriff’s department. The victim received the call from a cloned number that appears to be from the Sheriff’s Office. The caller told the victim there was a warrant for her arrest for failing to report for jury duty. She was instructed to get a $1500 money order stay on the line and meet at the Sheriff’s Office. According to a press release from Smith County, once the victim arrived at the Sheriff’s Office, the call was disconnected

Officials remind residents that at no time will anyone from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, or any law enforcement agency, ever call an individual and request cash or monetary payment for any criminal offense or warrant. When the caller found out that the victim had called her husband, he became angry and informed the victim that she had violated a “gag order”. Technology exists, by an app or otherwise, to allow a caller to show a fake number from his/her phone when a call is placed. Also, scammers are learning the names of actual investigators and/or deputies from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Official remind residents that at no time will anyone from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, or any law enforcement agency, ever call an individual and request cash or monetary payment for any criminal offense or warrant. Also, never provide anyone with debit/credit card numbers or personal information such as Social Security numbers, birthdates or driver’s license numbers over the phone. The only time you should ever provide this information is if the call was initiated by you and it is to a known business or creditor. If you receive a phone call such as this, simply hang up and call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600 or the local law enforcement agency within your jurisdiction. For more information on the Smith County Sheriff’s Office visit http://www.smithcountysheriff.com. The Sheriff’s Office also has a FB page and can be followed on Twitter at @SmithCSO.