County sheriff warns of scam

Four attempts at phone fraud in Roosevelt County were averted Monday when the targets of the scam called police.

According to the sheriff’s office, the caller identified themselves as a deputy with the sheriff’s office and told their targets that there was a warrant for their arrest and unless they sent money to an undisclosed address they would be arrested.

Sheriff Darren Hooker said four calls were reported Monday afternoon, with two of the calls within the Portales city limit and the other two in Roosevelt County.

He said the calls were to landline telephones.

“If anyone gets a call like this, please call the police or the sheriff’s office,” Hooker said.

Hooker said it is difficult to find the caller as most scams are from out of the country, but the sheriff’s office is collaborating with the Portales Police Department.

Chief Deputy Malin Parker said the department carries out arrest warrants in person.

“The sheriff’s department will never call and request money over the phone for any reason,” Parker said.