“In trouble for missing a grand jury.”
“Need to pay the police department for missing jury duty.”
“Past fines have accumulated, and a warrant has been issued for your arrest.”
Such is the nature of calls dozens of Boerne and Kendall County residents have reported receiving — fake payment scams, and often aimed at elderly residents.
The Boerne Police Department reports having seen an increase in reported fraud attempted cases over the last year, specifically cases in which the suspect posed as a law enforcement official and requested payment for outstanding fines and warrants.
“Many people know to hang up the phone and report the scammers to their local law enforcement office,” Boerne Detective Andrew Brzozowski said. “Unfortunately, it only takes one person to fall victim for the scammers to continue their efforts to take advantage of people.”
In December 2023 and January 2024, Boerne police received seven reports of scammers attempting to use law enforcement as a front, with four of those people falling victim and being defrauded almost $31,000.
Four more people fell for other types of scammers and were defrauded of $96,500.
One report in the last week of January contained information that a Boerne resident had indeed made a $1,400 payment after receiving multiple calls.
“In recent scams, we continue to see the ongoing lottery, phony debt and medical bill types of calls, but we have seen more suspects posing as Boerne Police officers, Kendall County Sheriff’s deputies, and agents from the Department of Justice,” Brzozowski said. A release from the Boerne Police Department reminds the public that no law enforcement official — local, state and federal — will ever demand payment from you over the phone.
Things to look out for include: Demanding payment to avoid being arrested; requiring payment in the form of gift cards; requiring payment in the form of cryptocurrency; requiring you to stay on the phone while you drive to a location to make payment; and advising you there is “gag-order” or telling you not to speak about it to anyone.
The police department received 171 reported fraud reports in 2022, a number that increased to 199 in 2023.
So far this year, BPD has taken 27 fraud reports in January. If that trend continues, 2024 totals could top 325 by year’s end.
If you believe you are being scammed, you should take the following steps: Do not give out personal information; do not make any payments; hang up and call your local law enforcement agency.
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