Scam Alert: Nacogdoches Sheriff Warns Citizens

The first thing I do when my cell phone rings is stare at in disbelief. It so rarely rings, that I am immediately suspicious.

I always let it go to voicemail. Most of my actual calls start with a text message. 

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If I answered, it would only be because the contact was already on my phone. Doing this has helped me keep my sanity and my bank account safe.

Scammers Calling Pretending To Be Sheriff Deputies

In a recent Facebook post from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office, they informed residents about scammer activity in our area. The scam always starts with your phone ringing and goes downhill from there.

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Scammers are calling local residents pretending to be sheriff's deputies. They then tell whoever will answer they are calling to collect on a loan.

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Some have noticed the seemingly local number 936-587-6285 in connection with these calls. Usually scams are easily spotted because of numbers and locations that aren't from our area.

Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Deputies Will Never Call To Collect Payments

There is an old saying in America, "There is no such thing as a debtors' prison." In 19th Century England, it was illegal to owe someone money and not pay it.

In Texas, we have a modern-day debitors prison, but it only applies to unpaid legal debts. Fines that are levied by police must be paid, like bail, or you stay in jail.

That said, police officers will never try to collect payment from individuals for loans. If a call ever seems suspicious, hang up and look up the non-emergency number for the police agency they claim to be with and ask for them.