Text Message Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement Officials

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)-Be on the lookout because scam artists are now using text messages to try to steal peoples money.

Attorney General Andy Beshear issued a scam alert Friday for con artists posing as law enforcement officials demanding payment and threatening arrest through text messages.

Beshear says Kentuckians in Greenup, Jefferson and Montgomery counties have recently reported losing more than $110,000 after they thought they were sending payment to an official law enforcement agency.

Beshear says the best way to avoid the scam is to know that no law enforcement office would ever send a text message to demand payment or threaten arrest.

Beshear warns Kentuckians of other law enforcement impostor scams, including the jury duty scam and sheriff’s deputy scams.

Beshear says his office launched a direct text messaging and email service, Scam Alerts in 2016.

Scam Alerts allows the office to send messages to Kentuckians when new and trending scams are reported in Kentucky.

To sign up to receive Scam Alerts, text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311), or enroll online at ag.ky.gov/scams.

To report a scam to the Office of the Attorney General, dial 888-432-9257 or file a consumer complaint online.