By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office warns of scammers in the Hays area who reach residents via calls, text messages and social media.
Lt. Tim Deines of the Ellis County Sheriff's Office said that scammers are posing as various identities, including law enforcement.
"We've had some of our local deputies and officers around here say that people have used their names fictitiously and said, 'Hey, I work for the Ellis County Sheriff's Office. This is my name. We've got a warrant,'" he said.
Deines said scammers impersonating authority figures try to persuade individuals to make payments or provide personal information to avoid arrest.
Scammers often direct potential victims to purchase gift cards and then call a number they provide. Victims are asked to share the gift card numbers, allowing scammers to redeem cash without the physical cards.
Deines advises people to be cautious and verify information independently by finding the agency's official number online and contacting them directly.
"I don't know any agency here or anywhere across the country that takes gift cards or anything like that instead of payment. So, of course, that would be a big red flag," he said.
Deines said scammers also target potential victims through text messages and social media, warning that scams can appear on almost any platform.
One example of a text scam Deines encountered is a fake delivery notice for a lost package, asking for personal information.
Although scammers look to extract personal information from their victims, Deines said much of this information is already accessible online.
"If you ever Google yourself or your address on the internet, you'd be surprised by what you could find. It's pretty easy for these people to go online and find basic information," he said.
Deines said holding scammers accountable is challenging because many operate outside the country, using local phone numbers to conceal themselves.
You can contact the Ellis County Sheriff's Office at 785-625-1040 for guidance and advice on avoiding scams.
"Use common sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Deines said.