Bexar County woman loses thousands in phone scam involving fake arrest, BCSO says

BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Bexar County sheriff’s deputies are warning the public after a woman on the northeast side of the county was targeted in an elaborate phone scam that cost her tens of thousands of dollars.

According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the victim reported the incident on Dec. 12. She told deputies she received a phone call the day before from a man claiming to be an attorney with a pretrial incarceration program.

Investigators say the caller falsely told the woman that her son had been involved in a car crash and arrested for driving while intoxicated. The scammer claimed the other driver was pregnant and a retired federal employee, adding that bond for her son had been set at $180,000.

The caller then instructed the woman to deposit $18,000 into a Bitcoin kiosk to secure her son’s release. Believing the situation was legitimate, she complied.

Deputies say the caller contacted her again later, falsely stating the other driver had miscarried as a result of the crash and demanded another $18,000, which the woman also deposited.

When the caller later demanded an additional $20,000 to have the case dismissed, the woman went to her bank to withdraw more money. A bank teller recognized the red flags of a scam and urged her to verify the information.

After contacting her son, the woman learned he had not been in an accident and was safe at home.

The sheriff’s office is reminding the public that law enforcement agencies and attorneys will never demand payment through Bitcoin, gift cards, or kiosks.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged to hang up immediately, verify the information directly with loved ones, and report it to Bexar County Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (210) 335-6000.

Officials encourage residents to share the warning to help prevent others from becoming victims. Scam and fraud awareness information is also available through the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at SCORE@bexar.org.