Callers posing as law enforcement officers are demanding money from Harris County residents for warrants that don't exist, and the sheriff's office wants Clear Lake area residents to know: hang up.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office posted a public warning on X on Wednesday, Aug. 19, alerting residents that scammers impersonating deputies and other officers are calling to collect payment on fabricated warrants. HCSO patrols unincorporated portions of Harris County, including areas near Webster, Friendswood and Seabrook.
The agency, led by Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, urged anyone who receives such a call to hang up immediately and verify the claim by calling HCSO directly at 713-221-6000 or Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess's office at 832-927-5800.
The district clerk's office has separately received multiple reports of a related fraudulent text message scam and posted its own emergency notification directing residents to the same HCSO phone number.
A broader pattern
The scam is not new. Similar schemes have surfaced across the Houston region, with callers in Fort Bend, Harris and Waller counties demanding payment to avoid arrest for fake warrants tied to missed jury duty. Those scammers used real employee names and agency addresses to sound credible, according to Katy Magazine.
HCSO also reported a concurrent rise in banking scams. "We have received reports of scammers posing as bank representatives and claiming there is fraudulent activity on a victim's account," an HCSO representative told Katy Magazine. Victims are instructed to enter a verification code that gives criminals access to their phone and banking apps. In some cases, thousands of dollars have been stolen through electronic transfers.
Nationally, Americans lost $920 million to government impersonator scams in 2025, up from $789 million the year before, according to Federal Trade Commission data reported by CNBC. Total imposter scam losses hit $3.5 billion, the highest on record. Older adults face heightened risk: losses of $100,000 or more among victims 60 and older accounted for $1.6 billion of that age group's $2.4 billion in reported losses in 2024.
How to protect yourself
HCSO's post included a printable graphic that residents can share with vulnerable family members. The agency emphasized that no legitimate law enforcement agency will demand immediate payment over the phone.
Residents who believe they have been targeted can report the contact to HCSO at 713-221-6000 or file a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
