Published: July 05, 2009 11:56 pm      

Telephone scam reported in county

A long distance telephone scam is reported to be operating in the area, and the culprit behind the con may already be in custody in Houston.

Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks said his office has received several reports of the scheme from people who have received disturbing phone calls.

“The calls say the person’s relatives have been arrested and are in the Harris County Jail, and they need to call this number to help them out,” Meeks said. “They call the number and a Hispanic-sounding lady answers.”

Rather than reaching the jail, the scam appears to involve some sort of call-forwarding, Meeks said.

“This inmate in the jail is getting to make long distance phone calls off of these people’s numbers.” he added. “We’re working with the Harris County authorities, trying to find out exactly who this is.”

in the meantime, Meeks is advising area residents to think twice before making any such calls and to report any suspicious calls to the sheriff’s office at 903-453-6800.