BCSO is encouraging the public to share the warning to help prevent others in the community from becoming victims.
SAN ANTONIO — A phone scam targeting Bexar County residents is prompting a warning from law enforcement after reports of someone posing as a sheriff’s office official, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
BCSO said the caller claims to be a captain with the agency and tells the resident that there is an active warrant for their arrest or that they owed money to law enforcement. The scammer then directs the person to deposit money into a Bitcoin teller machine or ATM to resolve the issue.
Officials said scammers may also claim there is a second step after payment but once cryptocurrency is sent, the money is typically unrecoverable.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that it does not take payments over the phone, will never request money to avoid an arrest and will never instruct someone to deposit Bitcoin or purchase gift cards for any reason.
Authorities advised residents who receive suspicious calls to hang up immediately and contact the sheriff’s office directly at 210-335-6000 to verify whether the call is legitimate.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging the public to share the warning to help prevent others in the community from becoming victims.
A recording of the scam call can be heard on BCSO’s Facebook page.