HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about fraudulent callers pretending to be deputies and demanding money.
HCSO posted on Facebook that it is aware of residents receiving phone calls where an unknown person made claims about fake warrants and who asked them to pay a fee to clear them. The office said these fraudulent calls have threatened people, saying that if they did not pay, they would need to post a bond for a subpoena.
“The Hays County Sheriff's Office would never and will never call anyone and demand money in lieu of an arrest or a warrant being issued. That's just that's just not how we operate,” said Deputy Anthony Hipolito, a public information officer with the Hays County Sheriff's Office.
Hipolito said these fraudulent callers tend to target vulnerable populations, like older people. He said retirement communities in Hays County have been warned about the calls.
“We encourage folks to trust their guts,” Hipolto said. “This is not just exclusive to Hays County, this is going on in several different places. I know of no law enforcement agency that is going to call someone and demand money.”
Hipolito said these recent attempts to target Hays County residents were unsuccessful, and no one was defrauded.
“Those citizens called the sheriff's office and asked to speak to the officers who were portrayed on the telephone call. So they trusted their gut,” he said.
These types of calls are not unique to Hays County -- in May, someone made calls to people in Travis County claiming to be someone from the District Attorney’s Office and demanding money.
“I think [the callers] are successful and that's why they continue to do it,” Hipolito said.
HCSO will do everything it can to track down these bad actors, Hipolito said.
Anyone in Hays County who suspects they have received a fraudulent call from someone pretending to be an HCSO employee should call (512) 393-7800.
