Collin County Officials Warn of Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement

Warning Against Impersonation Scams

• ⚠️ Collin County Sheriff's deputies are urging the public to be vigilant against scammers impersonating law enforcement officers.
• 💡 This is a new variation of an old scam where callers threaten jail time unless a payment is made.

Victim Experiences and Near Misses

• 📌 One Collin County woman was nearly scammed out of $7,000 after a scammer, posing as a sheriff's deputy, claimed she failed to appear for jury duty.
• 😨 The scammer demanded payment to prevent detainment or arrest, leaving the victim terrified.

Business Owners Stepping In

• 🎯 Local businesses, particularly vape shops, are actively posting scam alerts and warning posters near Bitcoin machines and ATMs.
• 👏 A store manager successfully intervened, preventing an elderly woman from losing her savings by stopping her from completing a fraudulent transaction.
• 📞 The manager advised the woman to stop the transaction and called the police, thwarting the scam.

Law Enforcement Response and Scam Persistence

• 💰 While there have been numerous arrests, hundreds of search warrants issued, and over a million dollars returned, these scams continue to persist.
• 💔 The scams not only take victims' money but also their sense of innocence.
• 🔍 Authorities emphasize that law enforcement never calls to demand money.