BELL COUNTY — Within the past week, the Bell County Sheriff’s Department has received reports from citizens that a male caller representing himself as an officer with the Bell County Sheriff’s Department, and who uses various names, titles, and telephone numbers when calling, states “you have an arrest warrant and your DNA is needed."
There are sounds of police scanners in the background and the male caller is using the Bell County Sheriff’s Department Public Service Office, number, (254) 933-5412, as a reference.
The male caller tells the individual that due to the COVID pandemic, all transactions will be conducted over the telephone. The male caller asks the individual to go to a local grocery store and purchase Google, Master and Visa cards for various amounts of money, all the while, the male caller has the individual stay on the telephone with him until the transaction is completed.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind the citizens of Bell County that they do not conduct business in this manner and do not request gift cards to be purchased in exchange to satisfy arrest warrants.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Department will never telephone anyone concerning an arrest warrant, much less ask for arraignments to be made over the phone.
If at any time anyone receives a call from someone purporting to be from the Sheriff’s Department and you become concerned or suspicious, please hang up the phone, call the Sheriff’s Department at (254) 933-5412 and speak to an on-duty deputy who will guide you.
