By Robert Taylor
The Boerne Police Department has seen an increase in reported fraud attempt 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,” Detective Andrew Brzozowsk said. “Unfortunately, it only takes one person to fall victim for the scammers to continue their efforts to take advantage of people.”
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.
The Boerne Police Department wants to remind the public that no law enforcement official, including local, state, and federal, will 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.
- Advising you there is a “gag-order” or telling you not to speak about it to anyone.
Any of the above-mentioned tactics should be a red flag. If something doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t.
The Boerne Police Department received 171 reported fraud reports in 2022, that number increased to 199 in 2023. So far in 2024, BPD has taken 27 fraud reports in the month of January.
In December 2023 and January 2024, our office received seven reports of scammer attempting to use law enforcement as a front with four of those people falling victim and being defrauded almost $31,000. Four people fell for other types of scammers and were defrauded $96,500.
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
You can contact the Boerne Police Department at (830) 249-8645 to report scammer activity.
