Sheriff’s office says names of Smith County sergeants are being used in phone scams
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that the names of two people employed by the county are being used in recent phone scams.
According to authorities, the caller states that he is either Sgt. Tim Jones or Sgt. Justin Hall and claims to be with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office civil processing division, needing to discuss an urgent matter. Officials said this always end with the victim owing money.
“The Smith County Sheriff’s Office employs both a Sgt. Tim Jones and Sgt. Justin Hall, but their names are just being used for the purpose of scamming individuals,” officials said. “If you receive a call from anyone advising that they are a law enforcement official and you owe money, please just hang up.”
Anyone wanting to verify the scam is asked to call the sheriff’s office non-emergency number at 903-566-6600.
“These scammers always ask for a monetary ‘fix’ to some sort of fake legal matter,” officials said. “They tend to prey on the elderly and others who are vulnerable to scare tactics. Please understand that no representative of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office will ever call you and demand money.”
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