Beware of phony texts, calls
By Whitney Wyatt/The Red River Sun—
CHILDRESS – Childress County Sheriff Mike Pigg is warning residents about phone scams happening around town.
“The Office of the Sheriff is getting numerous phone calls about scams that are being attempted on people,” Pigg said. “Of course, there is the ever-popular Social Security scam where a computer rendered voice advises the person called that their Social Security information has been compromised.”
The Social Security Administration does not call people, Pigg added. He said he wants residents to know all communications from the Social Security Administration will be via U.S. mail.
Jim Moody said he received a scam call in August and took to Facebook to warn others. “I received a scam call from Social Security from 585 number here,” he explained. “Be careful.”
He wasn’t alone. Carolyn Mooney Carrick has received more than one call. She said both calls were from 940 and 937 numbers AREA CODES?. She answered because the scammer spoofed a number she knew.
“It came through on caller ID from Jones Robert, who I know,” Carrick said.
Roger Simmons figured out he was being scammed after getting the same message from two different callers, he said. “I’ve gotten two while I’m in the hospital in Lubbock,” he explained. “I recognized what they were when the second message from someone else had the same message.”
Pigg said the other scam going around the county is a clever text message advising they were unable to deposit money into that person’s bank account. The scammer says to click on a link to verify or send them banking information.
“Don’t do that or release any of your personal information to anyone you do not know,” Pigg said.
