Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Warns Residents of Rising Fraudulent Schemes in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County residents are being urged to remain vigilant against a rising tide of fraudulent schemes. The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office has received over 350 reports of fraud this year alone, resulting in losses of approximately $5.5 million. This surge in fraudulent activity is a concerning trend echoing national statistics.
Sergeant Daniel Calvillo, supervisor of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Fraud Unit, warns residents about various types of fraud, including romance scams, jury duty scams, and investment scams related to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. He emphasizes the importance of exercising caution with phone calls, emails, and text messages from unknown entities.
"If you don’t recognize a phone number don’t answer it," he advised. "Once you answer that phone and it happens to be a scammer, now the scammer knows that phone number is a good number." Calvillo further cautioned against downloading anything from an unsolicited message, as the action may infect your device with malware, allowing the scammer to trace your keystrokes and gain access to your passwords and online banking details.
He also voiced concern over possible spikes in fraudulent activity following recent hurricane impacts. "You’re going to have a lot of scammers coming over to you claiming to be working with insurance companies, and they are going to promise you repairs and things of that nature," he predicted. "Stay vigilant, stay aware and that’s probably the best advice I can give somebody."
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These local alerts reflect a growing national concern. According to the Sentinel's Data Book, used by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to identify trends and enforce law, reports of fraud losses reached an all-time high in 2023, costing victims around $10 billion. That's a $1 billion increase from the previous year, even though the total number of reported fraud cases remained relatively stable at 2.6 million.
Imposter scams topped the list of fraudulent activities, with a whopping $2.7 billion in reported losses. This type of scam involves the perpetrator falsely claiming affiliation with a well-known company or financial institution. Business imposter scams were the most frequently reported, costing consumers a staggering $752 million in 2023. Government imposter scams also featured prominently, along with online shopping scams, negative review schemes, prize and lottery scams, and investment scams.
In light of these alarming trends, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office emphasizes the need for local residents to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting themselves against fraud. By staying informed about the various types of scams and exercising caution with unknown contacts, residents can better safeguard their personal information and financial well-being.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
